ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Air Pollution: Greater London

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what air quality measurements are made across each London borough; and what the results of these measurements were in each of the last three years.

Jonathan R Shaw: 10 sites in London are operated by the London boroughs and are affiliated to the national Automatic Urban and Rural Network. These 10 sites form part of the London Air Quality Network (LAQN), which is managed by the Environmental Research Group at King's College London. Hourly pollutant concentrations are measured and data collected from the individual sites are shown in the following table.
	A further five sites in London are owned by DEFRA. Historical data can also be obtained from a further nine sites which closed in 2007 due to a restructuring of the national network. The data can be examined and downloaded from the National Air Quality Information Archive.
	
		
			  Parameters measured( 1)  Monitoring sites and data 
			 Carbon monoxide Current sites: 10 
			 Nitric oxide  
			 Nitrogen dioxide Data availability: 1 April 1996 to current(2) 
			 Nitrogen oxides as nitrogen dioxide  
			 Ozone  
			 PM10 particulate matter (hourly measured)  
			 PM25 particulate matter (hourly measured)  
			 Sulphur dioxide  
			 (1) Not all pollutants are measured at all sites. (2) not all sites have monitored since 1996. 
		
	
	Data for around 80 additional sites operated by the London boroughs in London can be found on the London Air Quality Network Website.

Animal Welfare

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many  (a) reports,  (b) investigations and  (c) prosecutions of offences under the (i) Protection of Badgers Act 1992, (ii) Zoo Licensing Act 1981, (iii) Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, (iv) Pet Animals Act 1951, (v) Wild Mammals Protection Act 1996 and (vi) Deer Act 1991 there were in (A) 2006 and (B) 2007.

Joan Ruddock: Data showing the number of defendants proceeded against in 2006 at magistrates courts under the Protection of Badgers Act 1992, the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, the Pet Animals Act 1951, the Wild Mammals Protection Act 1996 and the Deer Act 1991 are set out in the following table. Data for 2007 will be available in autumn 2008. Information on the number of prosecutions under the Zoo Licensing Act 1981 is not collected centrally.
	Information on the number of reports and investigations carried out under these Acts is not collected centrally.
	
		
			  Number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates courts under selected wildlife offences( 1) , England and Wales, 2006( 2, 3, 4) 
			  Act  Proceeded against 
			 Protection of Badgers Act 1992 22 
			 Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 78 
			 Pet Animals Act 1951 12 
			 Wild Mammals Protection Act 1996 7 
			 Deer Act 1991 1 
			 Total 120 
			 (1) Information on the number of prosecutions under the Zoo Licensing Act 1981 is not collected centrally by the Ministry of Justice. (2) These data are on the principal offence basis. (3) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. (4) The data relating to offences under section 1 (Offences relating to birds) of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 for the Metropolitan and West Midlands police force areas have been excluded from the table, whilst the Ministry of Justice investigate the accuracy of the information.

Animal Welfare Act 2006

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Animal Welfare Act 2006.

Jonathan R Shaw: My officials are in frequent contact with key stakeholders and the feedback we have received concerning the effectiveness of the Animal Welfare Act 2006 is very positive. Nevertheless, we would want to defer making any detailed assessment until details of convictions under the Act have been published.

Animal Welfare Act 2006

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many  (a) males and  (b) females of each age group were (i) prosecuted and (ii) convicted of an offence under each relevant section of the Animal Welfare Act 2006 in 2007.

Jonathan R Shaw: The Animal Welfare Act 2006 came into force on 6 April 2007 in England and 27 March 2007 in Wales.
	Court proceedings data being collected by the Ministry of Justice for 2007 will be available in the autumn of 2008.

Animal Welfare Act 2006

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what  (a) statutory instruments,  (b) departmental circulars and  (c) other documents he (i) has issued and (ii) plans to issue in the next 12 months consequential to the provisions of the Animal Welfare Act 2006; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan R Shaw: The following documents have been made in relation to the Animal Welfare Act 2006 (the "2006 Act"):
	 (a) Statutory instruments made by the Secretary of State
	The Animal Welfare Act 2006 (Commencement Order No1) (England) Order 2007;
	The Animal Welfare Act 2006 (Commencement Order No2 and Saving and Transitional Provisions) (England) Order 2007;
	The Docking of Working Dogs' Tails (England) Regulations 2007;
	The Mutilations (Permitted Procedures) (England) Regulations 2007;
	The Mutilations (Permitted Procedures) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2008;
	The Welfare of Animals (Miscellaneous Revocations) (England) Regulations 2007;
	The Welfare of Farmed Animals (England) Regulations 2007.
	 (b) Guidance
	Explanatory Memorandum to the Animal Welfare Act 2006;
	Explanatory Memorandum to the Docking of Working Dogs' Tails (England) Regulations 2007;
	Explanatory Memorandum to the Mutilations (Permitted Procedures) (England) Regulations 2007;
	Explanatory Memorandum to the Mutilations (Permitted Procedures) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2008;
	Explanatory Memorandum to the Welfare of Animals (Miscellaneous Revocations) (England) Regulations 2007;
	Explanatory Memorandum to the Welfare of Farmed Animals (England) Regulations 2007.
	 (c) My department is proposing to issue the following SI s and documents in 2009 pertinent to the 2006 Act:
	A commencement order allowing s8(3)-(6) of the 2006 Act to come into force (provisions relating to the recording of animal fights); a cat welfare code; a dog welfare code; and an equine welfare code; In addition, it is proposed to issue the following consultation documents in 2009: draft proposals on regulating the welfare of racing greyhounds; a draft gamebird rearing code; a draft code on the private keeping of primates; and draft proposals on the transposition of EU legislation concerning the welfare of meat chickens.

Biofuels: Prices

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what research he has commissioned or evaluated into the effect of growing biofuels on food prices.

Phil Woolas: The Government-commissioned Gallagher Review is considering the impact of biofuels on food prices. Its findings will be published later this month.
	In April 2008, DEFRA published a report which reviewed the existing research on the impact of biofuels on commodity and food prices. It is available on the DEFRA website.

Bovine Tuberculosis: Disease Control

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent steps the Government have taken to assist farmers in protecting their livestock from bovine tuberculosis.

Jonathan R Shaw: Updated advice on husbandry best practice was produced last year by the bovine TB Husbandry Working Group - a partnership of key farming, veterinary and wildlife groups and Government. This free advice suggests some common sense, precautionary measures that farmers can take to help reduce the risk of bovine TB transmission between cattle and between cattle and badgers. We have also produced a CD-Rom for use by vets when giving guidance to farmers about protecting their livestock from the risk of TB.
	This is in addition to a range of other cattle-based measures introduced in the last couple of years to tackle bovine TB such as the introduction of zero tolerance of overdue tests; pre-movement tests for cattle moving from high risk herds; and extension of the use of the gamma interferon test. We are also actively pursuing the future use of vaccination of either cattle or wildlife as a long term means of tackling bovine TB alongside current control measures.

Bovine Tuberculosis: Disease Control

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what steps the Government have taken to establish the extent of tuberculosis infection in wild animals;
	(2)  what steps the Government plan to take to reduce the number of wild animals infected by tuberculosis.

Jonathan R Shaw: A considerable amount of research has been carried out by DEFRA into the prevalence of TB infection, both in relation to badgers and other wildlife species.
	Results from the Randomised Badger Culling Trial show that badgers are the main wildlife reservoir and contribute to bovine TB (bTB) in cattle.
	The risk to cattle of infection from wild species other than badgers has been assessed through research carried out by the Central Science Laboratory (CSL). While small numbers of many mammalian species such as rats have been shown to able to be infected with bTB, there is no evidence that they can transmit the infection to other species.
	Quantitative risk assessments commissioned by DEFRA demonstrate that the risk of cattle infection from deer is only likely to be significant if the prevalence of TB infection in deer is high.

Bovine Tuberculosis: Disease Control

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent steps the Government have taken to protect the public from wild animals infected with tuberculosis.

Jonathan R Shaw: A number of Government departments (DEFRA, Department of Health, Food Standards Agency, Health Protection Agency, Health and Safety Executive) work together to protect the public from contracting infection caused by Mycobacterium bovis (M. bovis). The potential risks to public health from exposure to wild animals infected with M. bovis are minimal, therefore no wildlife-specific public health protection measures are necessary. However, advice is available on the HPA website and from local animal health offices if people have concerns.

Climate Change: East of England

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what his policy is on providing support for  (a) dealing with the effects of climate change and  (b) flood management in the East of England region; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: DEFRA's overall policy on climate change adaptation and flood management is the same across all regions of England.
	As part of the programme, we are also undertaking a UK wide assessment of the risks due to Climate Change. The risk assessment will employ experts from across a wide range of sectors likely to be impacted by climate change.
	We have put in place a world leading resource, UK Climate Impacts Programme (UKCIP), to provide information and tools which can be used by organisations across the public, private and third sector, including local authorities, to help them adapt to both the risks and opportunities of a changing climate.

Coastal Areas: Environment Protection

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress has been made towards developing an adaptation toolkit on sustainable flood and coastal erosion on risk management approaches; and when the toolkit will be introduced.

Phil Woolas: The Government have agreed to develop an adaptation toolkit to assist communities in adapting to change where constructing defences is not the most appropriate means of managing flood and coastal erosion risk. Up to £28 million of DEFRA's comprehensive spending review settlement has been made available to support the adaptation toolkit. Some parts of the toolkit are already in place—for example strengthened planning policy for flood risk areas. Others are forthcoming. The full range of policies will be published in spring 2009.

Cod: Fishing Quotas

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  how many cod avoidance plans he has negotiated with British fishing vessels;
	(2)  what plans he has to make extra days of fishing available to English fishing vessels which agree to a cod avoidance plan  (a) in 2008 and  (b) in 2009.

Jonathan R Shaw: DEFRA officials are currently discussing with the National Federation of Fishermen's Organisations and the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, the two plans thus far submitted by the English fleet. However, I understand there are several more in the pipeline. The number of additional days available for this year for the vessels concerned, will depend on the outcome of those and subsequent discussions.
	Scotland is not operating a scheme based on individual vessel plans, but will require all participating vessels to adhere to the same commitments in each separate gear category. Northern Ireland is still considering the nature of its scheme. No Welsh vessels have to date applied for the kilowatt (kW) day option.
	For 2009, the number of days available to the respective fleets will depend on decisions yet to be taken in the context of the review of the cod recovery programme.

Departmental Furniture

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many  (a) chairs,  (b) desks and  (c) other office furnishings have been purchased by his Department and its agencies in each of the last five years; and at what cost in each case.

Jonathan R Shaw: In total, Special Projects have spent £4,316,178.05 on office furniture between financial years 2004-05 to 2008-09 inclusive.
	Special Projects (now known as the Space Utilization Team) is a group within Estates Division set up to co-ordinate large scale personnel moves. Much of the furniture shown was procured in conjunction with the refurbishment of 3-8 Whitehall Place, Nobel House and Ashdown House.
	
		
			  Furniture expenditure 
			  2004-05 
			  Item  Number purchased  Cost, including VAT (£) 
			 Storage Units 1,280 384,044.05 
			 Desks 714 379,882.20 
			 Swivel chairs 146 43,059.05 
			 Pedestals 564 89,685.40 
			 Desk Screens 302 56,813.60 
			 Meeting Tables 186 78,242.07 
			 Meeting Chairs 683 223,247.64 
			 Breakout Furniture 27 8,498.77 
			 Miscellaneous Items 2,125 147,032.44 
			 Total 6,027 1,410,508.22 
		
	
	
		
			  20 05 -0 6 
			  Item  Number purchased  Cost, including VAT (£) 
			 Storage Units 583 176,570.77 
			 Desks 349 113,705.92 
			 Swivel chairs 560 165,205 
			 Pedestals 655 107,201.12 
			 Desk Screens 621 151,139.37 
			 Meeting Tables 231 87,535.15 
			 Meeting Chairs 584 86,340.17 
			 Breakout Furniture 455 159,296.87 
			 Miscellaneous Items 713 67,968.15 
			 Total 4,751 1,114,962.40 
		
	
	
		
			  20 06 -0 7 
			  Item  Number purchased  Cost, including VAT (£) 
			 Storage Units 73 22,853.75 
			 Desks 10 9,196 
			 Swivel chairs — — 
			 Pedestals — — 
			 Desk Screens 26 4,800 
			 Desk Screen Reduction 160 32,200.87 
			 Meeting Chairs — — 
			 Breakout Furniture — — 
			 Miscellaneous Items 2 21,296.87 
			 Total 271 90,347.49 
		
	
	
		
			  20 07 -0 8 
			  Item  Number purchased  Cost, including VAT (£) 
			 Storage Units 67 29,607.65 
			 Desks 4 4,172 
			 Deli Bar 1 47,000 
			 Desk Screens 52 4,640 
			 Desk Screen Reduction 342 23,307.30 
			 Meeting Tables — — 
			 Meeting Chairs — — 
			 Breakout Furniture 87 18,767.10 
			 Miscellaneous Items 71 12,774.60 
			 Total 624 140,268.65 
		
	
	
		
			  20 08 -0 9 
			  Item  Number purchased  Cost, including VAT (£) 
			 Storage Units 150 29,560.65 
			 Desks 1 2,950.42 
			 Special Chair 1 743 
			 Bed 1 679 
			 Desk Power Units 5,000 115,650 
			 Desk Screen Reduction — — 
			 Meeting Chairs — — 
			 Breakout Furniture — — 
			 Miscellaneous Items — — 
			 Total 5,153 149,583.07

Dogs

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  which police forces did not respond to his Department's consultation on the  (a) adequacy and  (b) enforcement of legislation on dangerous dogs; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  if he will place in the Library the full response from the Lancashire Constabulary to his consultation on dangerous dogs legislation.

Jonathan R Shaw: These requests are currently being considered and I will write separately to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

Flood Control

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what factors he considers when determining the relative priority of measures to deal with coastal flooding and inland flooding; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: Capital works promoted by operating authorities have been prioritised according to the priority scoring system (PSS) which makes use of three main criteria: economics (based on benefit cost ratio); people (number of residential properties protected, risk and vulnerability); and environment (based on the area of habitat created or protected and heritage sites). The risk element of the people score recognised the differences between very fast onset of flooding (common in coastal areas) and slower rising flooding with longer warning times.
	New outcome measures for flood and coastal erosion risk management have been developed to provide greater clarity on what policies and funding for flood and coastal erosion risk management are intended to achieve. There are currently nine outcome measures, seven of which apply to both flood and coastal erosion risk, and two to flood risk only.
	We are working with the Environment Agency to develop an effective prioritisation approach using the outcome measures and expect a revised system to be introduced for 2009-10. There was no differentiation between coastal and inland areas in setting the targets for the flood management outcome measures, but the funding allocations announced in March did include an underlying minimum allocation for coastal local authorities of £110 million over three years.

Flood Control: Bournemouth

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations  (a) his Department and  (b) its agencies has received requesting assistance in improving flood defences in Southbourne, Bournemouth.

Phil Woolas: DEFRA has received one letter and the Environment Agency has received three letters on this issue from Hengistbury Residents Association.

Flood Control: Canvey Island

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps are being taken to improve working practices between the Environment Agency and local authorities to deal with  (a) flooding and  (b) drainage for Canvey Island; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: Canvey Island has some of the best defences in the country with the sea walls and associated structures offering a standard of protection against sea flooding in excess of 1:1,000. Additionally, £6 million has recently been invested by the Environment Agency on new pumps to improve drainage on the Island.
	Following the exceptionally heavy rainfall which occurred on Canvey Island over the bank holiday weekend, all organisations have assessed how their drainage structures performed. A meeting has been arranged for July, when all organisations with a drainage responsibility will be present to explore what measures can be taken to further reduce future flood risk.

Flood Control: Land Use

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when he expects to publish additional guidance on the role of land use management in controlling flood risk.

Phil Woolas: The Environment Agency led a project under the Government's strategy for flood and coastal erosion risk management—"Making space for water"—to investigate the relationship between land management and flood risk.
	The outputs of this project were published on DEFRA's website in February. These include reports on the role of land use and management in delivering flood risk, a review of existing mechanisms, options, recommendations for future work and an initial assessment of catchments sensitive to increased flood risk due to land use change.
	DEFRA will shortly be publishing the results of a research project which analysed historical data sets to look for evidence of any connection between land use and management change and flood generation.
	There are no further proposals to publish specific guidance on the role of land use management in controlling flood risk. However, as and when other Government guidance on land use and management is reviewed, further opportunities will be sought to encourage practices which help mitigate flood risk.

Floods

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when the departmental research projects entitled  (a) simulation of flood risk and non-structural flood management,  (b) flood risk management strategies in European member states,  (c) who benefits from flood management policies and  (d) developing the evidence base for flood resilience were completed; and at what cost in each case.

Phil Woolas: All of the named projects are currently in the final stages of completion and we anticipate publishing the technical reports in the near future.
	
		
			  Project title  Project cost (£) 
			  (a) Simulation of flood risk and non-structural flood management 114,977 
			  (b) Flood risk management strategies in European member states 42,466 
			  (c) Who benefits from flood management policies 93,990 
			  (d) Developing the evidence base for flood resilience 102,434

Home Energy Efficiency Scheme

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the ability of people who have received grants under the Warm Front Scheme to continue to pay for their new heating equipment; whether the effects of recent changes in oil prices on the cost of fuel have been considered; and whether he plans to review the categories of persons entitled to grants.

Phil Woolas: In view of both rising fuel prices and the need to reduce carbon emissions, Warm Front is currently piloting solar thermal systems to assess their suitability for integration into the scheme. If successful, it is anticipated that they could provide an alternative to oil systems for properties not connected to the gas network. We are currently considering further piloting of other lower carbon alternatives.
	Warm Front is currently undergoing a value for money review by the National Audit Office (NAO). This study will include an assessment of the effectiveness of the scheme at targeting those most in need. NAO expect the report to be published in December 2008.

Home Energy Efficiency Scheme

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Warm Front Scheme against its objectives; and if he will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: The National Audit Office (NAO) is currently performing a value for money study of Warm Front. This will provide an assessment of a variety of aspects of scheme delivery, including the effectiveness of the scheme at targeting those most in need, and the management of the scheme, including pricing, quality of service and customer satisfaction levels.
	NAO expect to publish the report in December 2008.

Landfill

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much waste was sent to landfill outside the local authority of origin in the last period for which figures are available, broken down by local authority of reception.

Joan Ruddock: holding answer 19 June 2008
	 I am arranging for the information requested to be placed in the House Library.
	The table provides data on inter local authority movements of waste for disposal to landfill in 2006, which is the most current data set available. The data relate to all types of waste deposited in landfill, including inert, hazardous and non-hazardous wastes.
	Environment Agency data come from site input returns provided by landfill operators. Providing information on the origin of waste is not mandatory. This is reflected in the 'not codeable' category, which shows the quantity of waste that does not have an identified origin.

Olympic Games

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many  (a) Ministers and  (b) officials from his Department plan to attend the Beijing Olympic Games; to what purpose in each case; and what estimate he has made of the cost.

Jonathan R Shaw: No Ministers or officials from this Department will be attending the Beijing Olympic games in an official capacity.

Radioactive Materials: Waste Disposal

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much the Government has allocated for areas that will host nuclear disposal facilities.

Phil Woolas: As set out in the "Managing Radioactive Waste Safely White Paper", this is a long term project. At this stage we cannot define the level or nature of benefits.
	The level, coverage and the point at which funding is available will be considered in the future.

Radioactive Materials: Waste Disposal

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much the Government spent in areas which host nuclear waste disposal sites in each year since the establishment of such sites.

Phil Woolas: There are currently no facilities for ultimate disposal of higher activity radioactive waste in the UK.
	That is why we are aiming to establish one.

Radioactive Materials: Waste Disposal

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans the Government have to identify sites for the location of nuclear waste disposal facilities in the event that no applications to host such a facility are received.

Phil Woolas: This is a matter we would determine in the future.

Sewers: Repairs and Maintenance

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what improvements have been made to the resilience of water and sewerage infrastructure to hazards over the last 12 months.

Phil Woolas: Measures to improve the resilience of critical infrastructure will require significant planning and investment, which will need to be made through the business planning process that companies are undertaking during the current periodic review of water price limits.
	Ofwat and the Environment Agency are developing a framework for assessing critical asset resilience to flooding in order to advise all water companies on their business plans, and companies are expected to bring forward proposals to address this risk in their draft business plans which will be submitted to Ofwat in August.
	In response to Sir Michael Pitt's interim report, the Government have undertaken a scoping study to assess the vulnerability of the Critical National Infrastructure to natural hazards.

Thames Barrier

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the design life of the Thames Barrier is; and how many times it has been raised to protect London from tidal surges in each year since it was commissioned.

Phil Woolas: The Thames Barrier is closed to protect London from high water levels in the River Thames. These high water levels result from tidal surge conditions in combination with high freshwater flows following rainfall over the Thames catchment. The Barrier closures may be characterised as predominantly tidal influenced or predominantly rainfall/fluvial influenced. Since construction, the Thames Barrier has been closed to prevent flooding during the winter flood season (generally October to April) on 109 occasions as follows:
	
		
			   Tidal  Fluvial  Total 
			 1982-83 1 0 1 
			 1983-84 0 0 0 
			 1984-85 0 0 0 
			 1985-86 0 1 1 
			 1986-87 1 0 1 
			 1987-88 0 0 0 
			 1988-89 1 0 1 
			 1989-90 1 3 4 
			 1990-91 1 0 1 
			 1991-92 1 0 1 
			 1992-93 4 0 4 
			 1993-94 3 4 7 
			 1994-95 2 2 4 
			 1995-96 4 0 4 
			 1996-97 1 0 1 
			 1997-98 1 0 1 
			 1998-99 2 0 2 
			 1999-2000 3 3 6 
			 2000-01 16 8 24 
			 2001-02 3 1 4 
			 2002-03 8 12 20 
			 2003-04 1 0 1 
			 2004-05 4 0 4 
			 2005-06 3 0 3 
			 2006-07 8 0 8 
			 2007-08 (to date) 5 1 6 
			 Total 74 35 109 
		
	
	The Thames Barrier and associated defences currently provide London and most of the Thames Estuary with a flood defence standard of about 1:2000 years (0.05 per cent. risk of flooding in any given year).
	It is expected that these defences will cope with rising tidal levels for many years to come.
	However, with climate change and sea level rise, the level of protection will gradually decline, as was planned back at the original design stage of the barrier, to a 1:1000 year (or 0.1 per cent.) risk of flooding by the year 2030.
	Through the Environment Agency's project "Thames Estuary 2100" we are already looking at flood risk management for the Thames Estuary for the next 100 years including a second barrier. This will give us detailed guidance on what needs to be done and when.

Waste Disposal: Fees and Charges

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether the decision of a local authority to become a pilot for the new scheme of charges for collection of household rubbish will be a matter for the full council or the executive of the council in a council with a cabinet model.

Joan Ruddock: It is for local authorities to determine their own decision-making processes, including for any decision on whether they wish to pilot a waste incentive scheme.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Departmental Accountancy

Oliver Letwin: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will place in the Library a copy of his Department's  (a) chart of accounts and  (b) resource account codes and usage descriptions for the 2008-09 financial year.

Shaun Woodward: A copy of the Department's current chart of accounts has been placed in the Library. In the Northern Ireland Office, there is no difference between the chart of accounts and the resource account codes. Each code has a brief description that describes its use.

Departmental Postal Services

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much his Department spent on sending mail overseas in each year since 2001, broken down by delivery company.

Shaun Woodward: The Department (excluding its agencies and Executive NDPBs) does not hold the spend data at the required level of detail to answer this question. This information can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

OLYMPICS

Olympic Games 2012: Finance

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Minister for the Olympics what recent estimate she has made of the total cost of the 2012 London Olympic Games.

Tessa Jowell: holding answer 23 June 2008
	In March 2007, I announced a funding package of £9.325 billion for the Games. In December I announced that within this, the Olympic Delivery Authority's budget was £6.090 billion including tax and £500 million of initial contingency and this remains unchanged. The remainder of the package covers security, community and elite sports and other non-ODA costs, together with a prudent contingency.
	The recent National Audit Office report examined the progress made in preparing for the Games, finding that
	"...there is now a clear basis for tracking costs and work to keep the costs within the agreed £9.325 billion budget is continuing"
	(National Audit Office report—Preparations for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games: Progress Report June 2008).

TRANSPORT

Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency: Data Protection

Greg Pope: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport in what circumstances the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency is permitted to reveal the details which it holds on individual citizens to third parties unrelated to the Department of Transport.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) may disclose information held on its records where it is lawfully permitted to do so, and where the provisions of the Data Protection Act and Human Rights Act may be met.
	A full download of the driver and vehicle databases is provided daily to the National Police Policing Improvement Agency (NPIA) for inclusion on the Police National Computer (PNC).
	Information held on the driver record (i.e. details of driver entitlement to drive, endorsements or photographic images) is released on a case by case basis to the other Government Departments only when DVLA is satisfied that data protection and legal obligations are met.
	Information held on the vehicle register (including vehicle keeper details) may also be disclosed in the same circumstances. In addition, vehicle information may be disclosed under Regulation 27 of the Road Vehicles (Registration and Licensing) Regulations 2002. This regulation permits the release of vehicle information to the police, to local authorities investigating an offence or a decriminalised parking contravention and to anybody who can demonstrate 'reasonable cause' for that information. All requests are made on an individual, case by case basis.
	The term 'reasonable cause' is not defined in the legislation. However, the following list details the circumstances that have previously been considered to be a 'reasonable cause'.
	safety recall by vehicle manufacturer— to enable the manufacturer, or an agent acting on their behalf, to trace keepers to ensure that a vehicle is checked and any modifications are made;
	abandoned vehicles—to help trace keepers who abandon their vehicles on private property outside the control of local authorities;
	minor hit and run incidents—to help trace keepers of vehicles involved in minor hit and run incidents not warranting a full police investigation. Circumstances could include incidents of personal injury or damage to property;
	toll/road charges—information may be released to help trace keepers of vehicles that have failed to pay road/tunnel/bridge charges;
	drive-offs—to help trace keepers of vehicles that drive off without paying for goods/services. Circumstances could include incidents of failing to pay for petrol or repairs for a vehicle;
	unauthorised parking on private land—to help landlords or their agents to trace keepers who obstruct access, contravene parking restrictions or trespass on private land;
	suspected fraud—to establish keepers of vehicles where insurance claims have been received;
	investigations into suspected vehicle 'clocking'—to confirm if a vehicle's recorded mileage is genuine;
	enforcement of traffic related offences outside the UK—to UK agents acting on behalf of non-UK authorities to pursue keepers for non payment of penalties for parking and toll road violations incurred outside the UK;
	stolen cheque payments—to investigate payments related to a vehicle using stolen cheques;
	tracing company assets—to a liquidator appointed by the court to confirm the assets of a company following insolvency;
	confirmation of keeper details to ensure seizure of correct vehicle by bailiff/debt collection agents under court order;
	person acting as an executor of a deceased's estate to confirm vehicle assets.
	Five commercial companies are provided with a bulk download of the vehicle data, excluding vehicle keeper data, to provide vehicle checking services. This information is updated periodically and matched with police and insurance industry data so that those considering purchasing a vehicle may confirm that the vehicle is as presented and is not stolen, scrapped or seriously damaged.

Bus Services: Rural Areas

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment she has made of trends in reliability and consistency of local bus services in rural areas where an individual bus company has the monopoly.

Rosie Winterton: The Department's survey of bus punctuality and reliability was not designed to identify trends in areas where an individual bus company has a monopoly and those where this is not the case. But, the latest figures from "Bus Punctuality Statistics GB: 2007" (available in the Libraries of the House) show that performance in rural authority areas has improved since the last survey in 2005.
	In 2007, 76 per cent. of non-frequent buses (five buses or less per hour) were on time, compared to 73 per cent. in 2005; and excess waiting time for frequent buses was 1.08 minutes, compared to 1.56 minutes in 2005 (figures for all bus stops).

Departmental Assets

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport over what period her Department depreciates the asset value of its  (a) vehicles,  (b) computer hardware,  (c) bespoke computer software,  (d) standard computer software,  (e) furniture and  (f) telecommunications equipment.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Department for Transport's depreciation policy is clearly disclosed in the Department's resource accounts which provides the asset lives under categories outlined in the FReM.
	Plant and machinery (including vehicles): Three to 25 years
	Information technology (computer hardware, bespoke computer software, standard computer software and telecommunications equipment): Three to 10 years
	Furniture and fittings: Two to 10 years

Fairtrade Initiative

Michael Moore: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 7 February 2008,  Official Report, column 1417W, on the Fairtrade initiative, how much her Department spent on refreshments for official departmental meetings and engagements in each of the last three financial years; and what percentage of this expenditure was on Fair Trade products.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The requested information is as follows:
	
		
			   £ 
			 2007-08 1,021,692.68 
			 2006-07 984,348.28 
			 2005-06 1,038,130.23 
		
	
	The Department for Transport does not centrally record the quantities or value of Fairtrade products purchased or the proportions they constitute of total spend and this information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. However, at our main London HQ building all tea and coffee served as part of the hospitality service is sourced from Fairtrade suppliers.

Liverpool Street to Chelmsford Railway Line

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the Answer of 17 June 2008,  Official Report, columns 791-92W, on the Liverpool Street to Chelmsford railway line, what options for reducing congestion on the Chelmsford to Liverpool Street line she has discussed with National Express; and on what dates such discussions took place.

Tom Harris: Discussions with National Express East Anglia (NXEA) began in November 2007 and are envisaged to continue for several months more.
	The discussions have encompassed enhancements to capacity on all routes operated by National Express East Anglia into Liverpool Street. Options that have been discussed for the Great Eastern mainline (encompassing Chelmsford to/from Liverpool Street) include lengthening more trains to 12 carriage formation in both the morning and evening peaks, running limited numbers of additional trains and amending stopping patterns and destinations of trains to/from Liverpool Street.
	Detailed proposals are being prepared by National Express East Anglia for further discussion with the Department for Transport.

Network Rail: Pay

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether she has issued guidance to Network Rail on bonuses and salaries to be paid to senior staff.

Tom Harris: No. Bonuses and salaries paid to senior staff at Network Rail are a matter for the company's remuneration committee, not for Ministers.

Ports: Imports

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which harbours from Lymington to Dartford and in the Isle of Wight are subject to open port duty regulations.

Jim Fitzpatrick: Harbour authorities are each governed by their own statutes but nearly all significant commercial harbour authorities have incorporated section 33 of the Harbours, Docks, and Piers Clauses Act 1847 or an equivalent in their legislation.
	That is the section which provides that
	"upon payment of the rates made payable by this and the special Act (i.e. the Act which incorporates section 33) and subject to the other provisions thereof, the harbour, dock and pier shall be open to all persons for the shipping and unshipping of goods and the embarking and landing of passengers".
	I understand the hon. Member's question is intended to refer to the River Dart rather than Dartford. The Department does not have a definitive list of those harbour authorities which have incorporated section 33 but we understand that among the harbour authorities in the relevant geographical area that have done so are Cowes, Yarmouth, Lymington, Poole, Weymouth, Portland, Torbay, Exmouth and the Dart.

DEFENCE

Afghanistan: Peacekeeping Operations

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many investigations into the deaths of civilians in Afghanistan have been initiated by the Royal Military Police's Special Investigations Branch in the last three years.

Des Browne: holding answer 19 June 2008
	Since 2005, there have been seven investigations into the deaths of civilians in Afghanistan by the Royal Military Police's Special Investigations Branch. These include the deaths of civilians working with ISAF forces as a result of insurgent attacks and deaths resulting from force protection incidents. These investigations take place when there is a possibility of a death resulting from a either a criminal act, a breach of rules of engagement, or a breach of the law of armed conflict, by UK forces or others, or at the request of commanders.

Armed Forces: Pay

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence with reference to the letter to  The Independent on Sunday of 18 May by Vice-Admiral Peter Wilkinson, if he will place in the Library a copy of the calculations supporting the assertion that a lance corporal deploying to Afghanistan for six months could have a total benefits package worth over £31,000.

Derek Twigg: The calculation was based around a 12 month period within which a six-month operational tour was undertaken. The figures were calculated by inputting data to the Armed Forces Benefits Calculator (ABC) as follows:
	
		
			   £ 
			 Salary (low band level 6) (1)20,449.00 
			 Operational Allowance (182 days) 2,380.56 
			 Longer Separation Allowance (182 days) 1,132.04 
			 Food and Incidental Allowance 4,226.70 
			 Health and Fitness facilities 240.00 
			 Dental Care 240.00 
			 Free eye tests 17.00 
			 Prescriptions 13.00 
			 Standard Learning Credit 175.00 
			 Enhanced Learning Credits 2,000.00 
			 Subsidised Accommodation 425.83 
			 Total (2)31,299.13 
			 Estimated annual employers' contribution to pension 3,967.11 
			 Total (including pension) (2)35,266.24 
			 (1) Maximum 27,599.00. (2) Pro rata.

Armed Forces: Schools

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the mobility rate was for each service children's education  (a) primary and  (b) secondary school in the last academic year.

Derek Twigg: In order to combine primary and secondary statistics within a single database, Service Children's Education (SCE) is currently revising the Data Collection System employed to monitor pupil mobility rates in SCE schools. I shall write to the hon. Member once this information becomes available.
	 Substantive answer from Derek Twigg to Liam Fox:
	I undertook to write to you in answer to your Parliamentary Question on 14 January 2008,  Official Report, column 878W about the mobility rate for schools operated by Service Children's Education (SCE). I apologise for the delay in replying.
	The Mobility Index for each SCE School for the academic year 2006-07 was as follows:
	
		
			  School  Percentage 
			  Primary and Middle  
			 AFNORTH International School 77 
			 Akrotiri School 67 
			 Andrew Humphrey School 52 
			 Ayios Nikolaos School 103 
			 BFS Naples School 74 
			 Bielefeld School 52 
			 Bishopspark School 55 
			 Blakenhagen School 68 
			 Bruggen School 52 
			 Derby School 71 
			 Dhekelia School 52 
			 Episkopi School 63 
			 Haig School 54 
			 Heide School 69 
			 Hornbill School 85 
			 John Buchan School 46 
			 Lister School 68 
			 Marlborough School 69 
			 Montgomery School 79 
			 Mount Pleasant School 184 
			 Mountbatten School 99 
			 Oxford School 53 
			 Robert Browning School 56 
			 SHAPE International School 73 
			 Shackleton School 62 
			 Sir John Mogg School 100 
			 Slim School 73 
			 St. Andrew's School 54 
			 St. Christopher's School 62 
			 St. David's School 55 
			 St .George's School 58 
			 St. Patrick's Schools 61 
			 Toucan School 63 
			 Tower School 65 
			 Wellington School 68 
			 Weser School 68 
			 William Wordsworth School 66 
			   
			  Secondary  
			 King Richard School 60 
			 King's School 55 
			 Prince Rupert School 73 
			 St. John's School 62 
			 Windsor School 46 
		
	
	The Mobility Index figures used by SCE are based on the Dobson-Henthorn formula which calculates mobility percentages based on the overall impact to the school roll by children either arriving or leaving each school at a non-standard time, i.e. prior to the normal school leaving age. This can on first sight cause some confusion, e.g. if a School roll is 100 and 50 children leave and are replaced by a different 50 children then the Index would show a percentage score of 100.
	I hope this explains the situation.

Olympic Games

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many  (a) Ministers and  (b) officials from his Department plan to attend the Beijing Olympic games; to what purpose in each case; and what estimate he has made of the cost.

Derek Twigg: No Defence Ministers or officials will be attending the Beijing Olympic games in an official capacity.

Trident: Finance

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence which budget lines in the tables published in section IV of his Department's Defence Plan 2008-2012, Cm 7385, include expenditure dedicated to the Trident nuclear weapons programme; and what the relevant disaggregated allocations to the Trident programme are in each case.

Des Browne: Budgetary allocations dedicated to the strategic deterrent are present in a number of budget lines in the tables in Section IV of the Defence Plan, reflecting the diverse nature of the expenditure, covering research, capital investment, manpower, estate and other running costs. Expenditure in such areas cuts across a range of Activities and Budget Holders, and as such it is not possible to provide disaggregated allocations by Budget line as set out in the tables in Section IV of the Defence Plan 2008-2012.

Veterans Day

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many grants were awarded to  (a) local authorities,  (b) Royal British Legions,  (c) independent bodies and  (d) individuals for the 2007 Veterans' Day celebrations; and what average grant was awarded to applications in each category.

Derek Twigg: 105 grants were awarded for 2007 Veterans Day celebrations. Grants were awarded as follows:
	
		
			  Awarded to  Number of grants awarded  Average grant awarded 
			 Local Authorities 16 6,341 
			 Royal British Legion 29 1,738 
			 Independent Bodies 59 2,684 
			 Individuals 1 500 
		
	
	The differences in average value reflect the different nature of events typically organised by each group.

Veterans Day

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the average grant awarded for the 2007 Veterans' Day was; and if he will make a statement.

Derek Twigg: The average grant awarded for Veterans Day 2007 was £3,463.
	Funding totalling £363,586.17 was awarded to 105 successful bidders.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Arts: Bassetlaw

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many Arts Council Own Art loans were made in Bassetlaw constituency in each of the last four years.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 20 June 2008
	The information requested is not available for years prior to 2007-08.
	In 2007-08, Arts Council England made 134 Own Art loans in the East Midlands region; three of these loans were made to people with postcodes in the constituency of Bassetlaw.

Arts: Bassetlaw

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many Arts Council Take it Away loans were made in Bassetlaw constituency in each of the last four years.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 20 June 2008
	Arts Council England's Take It Away loan scheme has been operating since July 2007, during which time 749 loans have been made in the East Midlands region; seven of these loans were made to people with postcodes in the constituency of Bassetlaw.

Digital Broadcasting: Radio

Laura Moffatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans he has for rolling out digital radio nationally.

Andy Burnham: holding answer 23 June 2008
	Yesterday I placed in the Libraries of both Houses the interim report from the Digital Radio Working Group. This report sets out a clear path for radio's migration from analogue to digital.
	The Group will now consider further the potential barriers to this proposed digital migration, including the need to increase the coverage of DAB. The Group has also stated that it will be looking closely at each of the nations and the impact on consumers that digital radio migration might have.
	I look forward to the Group's final report at the end of this year.

National Lottery Commission: Finance

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what funding the National Lottery Commission received from  (a) his Department,  (b) the National Lottery Distribution Fund account,  (c) the Olympic Lottery Distribution Fund account and  (d) other organisations in each year since 1994.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) pays the running expenses of the National Lottery Commission (NLC) and recovers the net costs from the National Lottery Distribution Fund (NLDF) and the Olympic Lottery Distribution Fund (OLDF). The net costs are defined as the grant in aid paid to the NLC less licence fee income received. (In practice, the licence fee income is collected by the NLC from the lottery operator and must be paid to the DCMS before being passed out as part of the DCMS payment to the NLC.)
	The net costs recovered from each fund since 1994 are shown in the following table.
	
		
			  £000 
			   NLDF  OLDF (from 2005-06) 
			 1994-95 4,820 — 
			 1995-96 1,927 — 
			 1996-97 1,459 — 
			 1997-98 1,991 — 
			 1998-99 1,815 — 
			 1999-2000 2,740 — 
			 2000-01 4,396 — 
			 2001-02 2,809 — 
			 2002-03 2,342 — 
			 2003-04 3,765 — 
			 2004-05 4,401 — 
			 2005-06 7,921 — 
			 2006-07 8,047 700 
		
	
	The payments by the NLDF and the OLDF relating to 2007-08 will appear in the annual accounts for the two funds, which are due to be laid before Parliament in October.
	The National Lottery Commission has received no funding from other organisations.

Physical Activity: Elderly

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 
	(1)  what steps the Government have taken to encourage pensioners to take more physical exercise;
	(2)  what steps the Government have taken to encourage leisure centres to provide sports facilities aimed at pensioners.

Andy Burnham: holding answer 19 June 2008
	The Government are committed to increasing participation in sport and physical activity.
	On 6 June this year, we announced a package designed to extend opportunities to swim and to maximise the health benefits of wider participation in swimming—particularly for those aged over 60.
	The many benefits swimming can bring are reflected in the cross-Government nature of the initiative, with contributions from the Department of Health, the Department for Work and Pensions, the Department for Communities and Local Government, the Department for Children, Schools and Families and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
	Over the summer, we will work in close consultation with the Local Government Association, the Amateur Swimming Association, Sport England and others to develop the details of the scheme.

Strip Clubs

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what recent representations he has received on the licensing of lap dancing clubs.

Gerry Sutcliffe: I have received a number of letters from hon. Members on behalf of constituents who are concerned about the growth of lap dancing establishments in their area, and have received representations from campaign groups and local authorities seeking greater control of such activities. The Government take these concerns seriously and have agreed to look at whether we need to do more to support local communities in controlling these establishments.

Theatre

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps his Department is taking to increase access to theatres in the English regions, with particular reference to rural areas.

Margaret Hodge: The Department's support for the theatre is channelled through Arts Council England. In recognition of their work in giving people in rural areas access to high-quality performing arts, the Arts Council will provide above-inflation increases in grants for 2008-09 to 2010-11 to a number of local authorities and touring companies. Several arts centres serving rural areas and offering high-quality performing arts programmes also received increases in the Arts Council's last investment strategy. The Arts Council has also increased its funding to the National Rural Touring Forum, the umbrella body for rural touring circuits, by 50 per cent. in 2008-09.
	Through its Thrive! programme, the Arts Council has allocated over £1.7 million of lottery funds to support better collaboration within the sector to improve understanding of existing audiences and access for new audiences; and over 25 per cent. of local strategic partnerships (many of them rural) have prioritised increasing engagement in the arts in their new local area agreements.

WALES

Departmental Pay

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what estimate he has made of the average pay per hour worked by  (a) permanent and  (b) temporary staff in his Department in the last period for which figures are available, broken down by pay band.

Paul Murphy: I have not made any estimates of average pay for Wales Office staff.
	The Wales Office draws its staff from other Government Departments, mainly the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) and the Welsh Assembly Government. The home employer sets the level of pay and the method of progression through the pay band.
	Staff on temporary fixed term contracts receive salaries in line with the MoJ pay band applicable for the role.

Departmental Trade Unions

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales which trades unions represent members of staff in his Department.

Paul Murphy: Members of Wales Office staff are represented by the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS).

BUSINESS, ENTERPRISE AND REGULATORY REFORM

Construction: Standards

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what research his Department has  (a) commissioned and  (b) evaluated on the number of (i) incompetent builders and (ii) rogue traders; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: None. The Office of Fair Trading has however carried out research into consumer detriment very broadly defined: in April of this year they published an assessment of the frequency and impact of consumer problems with goods and services. It has also separately researched the prevalence and impact of scams on UK consumers (report published in December 2006). These and other related reports and consumer information are available on the OFT website
	http://www.oft.gov.uk.
	To raise standards in the domestic home repair, maintenance and improvement sector, the Government have, in collaboration with industry and consumer stakeholders, developed the Trust Mark Scheme for builders, which commits its members to good standards of customer service and to appropriate redress where these standards are not met.

Estate Agents: Complaints

Lembit �pik: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform pursuant to the answer of 2 June 2008,  Official Report, column 782W, on estate agents, when he expects the Office of Fair Trading to announce who they have approved to run an approved estate agent redress scheme from October 2008; how many responses were received in total to the recent estate agent consultation; and if he will make a statement.

Gareth Thomas: The Office of Fair Trading announced on 19 June 2008 it had approved the Ombudsman for Estate Agents (OEA) to run an estate agents redress scheme.
	There were 12 responses to the estate agents consultation.

Intellectual Property

Derek Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform for what reasons his Department decided to hold a consultation exercise on the implementation of Council Directive 93/98 EEC of 29 October 1993 on copyright and related rights.

Ian Pearson: I have been asked to reply.
	The Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills has made no decision to conduct any such consultation exercise.

Intellectual Property

John Whittingdale: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform when he expects to implement recommendation 40 of the Gower Review of Intellectual Property on consultation on measures to tighten the regulation of occasional sales and markets.

Gareth Thomas: Like all other Government bodies, the Department's resources are inevitably limited, and it is necessary to prioritise new projects and work on new issues. It has not so far been possible in that framework to set a specific time frame for implementing this recommendation. However, it remains our intention to do so as soon as may be practicable.

Joint Economic and Trade Committee: India

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what progress has been made in establishing the Joint Economic and Trade Committee with India since the joint declaration with India of 20th September 2004.

Gareth Thomas: The UK-India Joint Economic and Trade Committee (JETCO) held its inaugural meeting on 13 January 2005 in New Delhi, co-chaired by the then Secretary of State for the Department of Trade and Industrymy right hon. Friend the Member for Leicester, West (Ms Hewitt) and the Indian Minister for Commerce and Industry (Shri Kamal Nath).
	Since then the ministerial meetings have been held annually, alternating between London and New Delhithe most recent on 13 December 2007 in London chaired by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform and Minister Nath.

Nuclear Power

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what assessment he has made of the effect on  (a) costs and  (b) security of the UK's domestic fuel cycle in relation to nuclear power electricity generation; and if he will make a statement.

Malcolm Wicks: The Department has published a number of pieces of analysis of the costs of meeting our long-term carbon dioxide emissions target. These include work undertaken by the UK Energy Research Centre (UKERC) for the 2007 Energy White Paper as well as analysis for the 2008 Nuclear White Paper.
	A summary version of the analysis is available at:
	http://www.berr.gov.uk/files/file38979.pdf.
	The full report by the UKERC is available at:
	http://www.ukerc.ac.uk/Downloads/PDF/S/Scenariosreport.pdf.
	The analysis for the 2008 Nuclear White Paper is available in Annex A at:
	http://www.berr.gov.uk/files/file43552.pdf.
	Our analysis for the Nuclear White Paper concluded that, without the option of nuclear power, the costs to the economy could amount to an additional 1 billion per annum by 2050 and 5 billion per annum if carbon capture and storage were not to prove a feasible technology. Excluding nuclear as an option would mean the UK would also be reliant on a less diverse mix of technologies to insure us against the future developments that could undermine security of supply, for example higher fossil fuel prices.

Departmental Press Office

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how much his Department's press office cost in each of the last five years, in  (a) staffing,  (b) accommodation and  (c) other overhead costs.

Gareth Thomas: The information is as follows:
	
		
			  Cost of Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform press office 
			   000 
			 2003-04 n/a 
			 2004-05 1,074 
			 2005-06 1,106 
			 2006-07 967 
		
	
	Following a machinery of government change in July 2007, figures for BERR 2007-08 will not be available until after the accounts are audited.
	Figures are not available for the DTI prior to 2004-05 as that year saw the introduction of a new accounting system and the accounts for previous years were not transferred.
	Total pay costs represent the costs of staff in postcomprising salary, overtime, NI and superannuation.
	The accommodation and overhead costs are managed centrally for the whole Department and are not therefore separately identifiable for press office.

Royal Mail: Crewe

Edward Timpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform what representations he has received on the proposed closure of the Royal Mail sorting office in Crewe; and if he will make a statement.

Patrick McFadden: holding answer 6 June 2008
	Ministers are aware of Royal Mail's review of its North West mail centres but have not received any formal representations. This review is an operational matter for the company.

Tourism: Marketing

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform how much regional development agencies spent on marketing and promoting tourism in each of the last five years.

Patrick McFadden: The following table shows the regional development agencies (RDAs) spend on marketing and promotion of tourism in their region. Several RDAs deliver tourism marketing and promotion at regional, sub-regional and/or local levels through a third party organisation(s). In these cases the amount has been included in the figures given.
	
		
			  000 
			  RDAs  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08 
			 AWM(1) 0 700 700 700 1,150 
			 EEDA 569 613 672 1,296 1,723 
			 EMDA 101 266 2,499 2,273 2,016 
			 LDA(2) 0 16,217 14,743 14,847 15,241 
			 NWDA 10 2,650 2,584 2,647 2,404 
			 ONE 0 0 1,698 4,817 4,014 
			 SEEDA 0 0 0 374 400 
			 SWRDA 500 500 500 500 500 
			 YF 360 1,300 1,000 2,880 3,100 
			 (1) Estimated figures. (2) Data represent the grant to Visit London. It is not possible to separate out marketing and promotion of tourism. London is recognised by the UK tourism industry as supporting the success of other UK destinations through its gateway role and Visit London plays an important delivery role in promoting London as a gateway to the rest of the UK.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Care Homes: Winter Fuel Allowance

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  whether an individual residing in a care home and paying their own fees in full is entitled to the full winter fuel allowance;
	(2)  whether an individual residing in a care home whose fees are being  (a) paid in full or  (b) partially paid from public funds is entitled to the full winter fuel allowance.

Mike O'Brien: A person residing in a care home who is not in receipt of pension credit is entitled to a shared winter fuel payment. This includes someone paying their own care home fees. This is because they share their home with other people who are also entitled to the payment.
	A person residing in a care home who is in receipt of pension credit is not entitled to a winter fuel payment. This is because the vast majority of people receiving pension credit also receive public funding from the local authority towards their care costs including heating.

Child Poverty Unit

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will place in the Library the operational plan for the Joint Child Poverty Unit.

Stephen Timms: The Child Poverty Unit's workplan is determined by the unit's vision and mission.
	The Child Poverty Unit's vision is to eradicate child poverty by 2020 and ensure that no child has their childhood or life chances blighted by poverty. Its mission is to make child poverty everybody's business and work in partnership with stakeholders within and outside Government to drive the changes needed to achieve the vision.
	The unit's detailed workplan constitutes advice to Ministers, and in accordance with previous convention on these matters, such advice is not made public.

Child Support Agency

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the total value is of the contracts the Child Support Agency (CSA) has with external debt collectors; how much has been paid to date under such contracts; with which debt collectors the CSA has contracts; how many cases they are handling; what the total debt outstanding on transfer to the external debt collectors is; how many cases they have successfully recovered outstanding debt from  (a) in full and  (b) in part; and what total sum has been recovered.

James Plaskitt: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive. He will write to the hon. Member with the information requested.
	 Letter from Mark Grimshaw, dated 24 June 2008:
	In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Support Agency, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive. As the Chief Executive is currently out of the office on business, I am responding, with his authority, on his behalf.
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the total value is of the contracts the Child Support Agency (CSA) has with external debt collectors; how much has been paid to date under such contracts; with which debt collectors the CSA has contracts; how many cases they are handling; what the total debt outstanding on transfer to the external debt collectors is; how many cases they have successfully recovered outstanding debt from (a) in full and (b) in part; and what total sums has been recovered.
	The Agency currently has contracts with Eversheds LLP and iQor debt collection agencies under which fees are based on the amount collected. A total of 2.47m had been paid up to the end of April 2008.
	Since August 2006, the Agency has referred over 63,000 cases to debt collection agencies with a total debt of 335.9 million. By the end of March 2008, 11.9 million had been collected from 17,358 cases, of which 4030 had paid in full. Additionally, in the same period, the seven-day warning letter sent by the Agency to inform clients that their debt is being transferred to the debt collection agencies has resulted in an additional 6 million being collected by the Agency bringing the total collected in this period to 17.9m.
	I hope you find this answer helpful.

Fuel Poverty

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on using energy efficiency measures to tackle fuel poverty; and if he will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) works closely with a number of Government Departments, including the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) on measures aimed at tackling fuel poverty. Regular meetings are held at both official and ministerial level.

Jobcentre Plus: Manpower

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many employment advisers are employed by Jobcentre Plus; and what proportion of them specialise in dealing with people who are  (a) disabled and  (b) over the age of 60 years.

Stephen Timms: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus, Lesley Strathie. I have asked her to provide the hon. Member with the information requested.
	 Letter from Lesley Strathie, dated 24 June 2008:
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question asking how many employment advisers are employed by Jobcentre Plus; and what proportion of them specialise in dealing with people who are (a) disabled and (b) over the age of 60 years. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	There are currently 8,918 full time equivalent employment advisers within Jobcentre Plus. Of these 1,615 (18.1%) specialise in dealing with people with a disability as Disability Employment Advisers, Incapacity Benefit Advisers or New Deal for Disabled People Advisers. There are no employment advisers who specialise in dealing with people over the age of 60 but there are 114 (1.3%) employment advisers for those people over 50.

Members: Correspondence

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he expects to answer Question  (a) 167266, tabled on 20 November 2007,  (b) 170276, tabled on 27 November 2007 and  (c) 170570, tabled on 28 November 2007 by the hon. Member for Northavon.

Anne McGuire: holding answer 14 January 2008
	 I replied to the hon. Member  (a) on 3 March 2008,  Official Report, column 2061W,  (b) on 22 January 2008,  Official Report, column 1887W,  (c) on 18 February 2008,  Official Report, column 254W.

National Insurance: Migrant Workers

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many migrant workers from other EU member states in  (a) Wellingborough,  (b) Northamptonshire and  (c) the United Kingdom have national insurance numbers; and how many he estimates there will be in 2020.

Stephen Timms: Information on the stock of national insurance numbers held by migrants from EU member states is not available. The available information on the number of national insurance numbers registered in 2006-07 to adult EU nationals in the geographic areas requested is in the table. Information is not available on how many of these EU nationals are in work.
	
		
			  National insurance numbers allocated to adult EU nationals (excluding the United Kingdom) 
			  Area  2006-07 
			 Wellingborough local authority 830 
			 Northamptonshire 6,330 
			 United Kingdom 418,480 
			  Notes: 1. Numbers are rounded to the nearest 10. 2. Geography is assigned by matching postcodes against the relevant postcode directory. 3. Geographical counts are based on the most recently recorded address for the national insurance number recipient at the time of the data scan. 4. Data relate to tax years 6 April to 5 April. 5. Data for Northamptonshire comprise the following local authorities: Corby, Daventry, East Northamptonshire, Kettering, Northampton, South Northamptonshire, and Wellingborough. 6. Data include NINO allocations to adult Bulgarian and Romanian nationals for the whole of the 2006-07 period.  Source:  Numbers are based on 100 per cent. data from the National Insurance Recording System 
		
	
	There are no estimates of national insurance number allocations to adult EU nationals in 2020.

New Deal Schemes: Lincolnshire

Shona McIsaac: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many  (a) people,  (b) young people,  (c) lone parents,  (d) people over 25 years and  (e) people over 50 years participated in the New Deal in (i) Cleethorpes constituency, (ii) North East Lincolnshire and (iii) North Lincolnshire in 2007.

Stephen Timms: The information requested is in the following table.
	
		
			  Starters (individuals) to new deal programmes in Cleethorpes parliamentary constituency, North East Lincolnshire local authority and North Lincolnshire local authority( 1)  February 2008 
			   All( 2)  New deal for young people  New deal for lone parents  New deal 25 plus  New deal 50 plus( 3) 
			 Cleethorpes 5,670 2,350 1,70.0 1,080 200 
			 North East Lincolnshire 14,470 6,130 3,780 3,290 530 
			 North Lincolnshire 8,620 3,670 2,500 1,530 360 
			 (1) Local authority: Local authority is allocated using the ONS Postcode Directory and client's postcode. (2) All includes those started new deal for disabled people and new deal for partners. (3) New deal 50 plus: Data only available for starters from January 2004.  Note: Definitions and conventions: Figures are rounded to the nearest 10.  Source: Department for Work and Pensions, Information Directorate 
		
	
	The information shown for NDYP, NDLP, ND25+ and ND50+ is published at:
	http://www.dwp.gov.uk/asd/tabtool.asp

Pension Credit

Don Touhig: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what estimate his Department has made of the amount of pension credit unclaimed in  (a) Islwyn constituency,  (b) England and  (c) Wales in each year since its introduction;
	(2)  how many pensioners in Islwyn constituency are  (a) eligible for and  (b) receive a pension credit.  [Official Report, 17 September 2008, Vol. 479, c. 14MC.]

Mike O'Brien: Estimates of eligibility, take-up and the amount of benefit unclaimed are not available below the level of Great Britain. It is not therefore possible to say how many people are eligible to pension credit or how much pension credit is unclaimed in Islwyn constituency, England or Wales.
	Latest estimates of take-up rates, the number of pensioners who were entitled but not claiming pension credit and the amount of pension credit unclaimed in Great Britain were published in the Income Related Benefits Estimates of Take-Up in 2006/07 report. A copy of this report is available in the Library.
	As at February 2008 there were 3,910 pensioner households4,860 individualsreceiving pension credit in Islwyn constituency.
	 Notes:
	1. The figures provided are early estimates. The preferred data source for figures supplied by DWP is the Work and Pensions Longitudinal Study (WPLS). However, the figure provided is the latest available figure, which is taken from the GMS scan at 28 February 2008. These are adjusted using the historical relationship between WPLS and GMS data to give an estimate of the final WPLS figure.
	2. Case loads are rounded to the nearest 10.
	3. Households are those people who claim pension credit either for themselves only or on behalf of a household.
	4. Individual beneficiaries includes both claimants and their partners.

Pensioners: Council Tax

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many pensioners living in poverty are liable to pay council tax at the full rate.

James Plaskitt: Approximately 150,000 pensioners living in households with income of less than 60 per cent. of national median income are liable to pay council tax at the full rate. This equates to about 8 per cent. of pensioners living below the 60 per cent. threshold, and about 1 per cent. of all pensioners.
	These pensioners are pensioner couples, without disabilities, who have more than 16,000 capital.
	 Notes:
	1. These figures have been derived using the Policy Simulation Model (PSM) which uses data from the Family Resources Survey (FRS). These are estimated indicative figures.
	2. The PSM models the current policy year (2008-09) using the latest FRS data (2006-07), by uprating the FRS to represent the appropriate policy year.
	3. The analysis provided assumes full take-up of income-related benefits in 2008-09.
	4. The Government's preferred measures of low income for pensioners are based on incomes measured after housing costs. As part of PSA Delivery Agreement 17 three indicators of low income poverty will be monitored: the percentage of pensioners below 60 per cent. contemporary median income, 50 per cent. median income and 60 per cent. of 1998-99 median income uprated in line with prices.

Poverty: Hampshire

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will provide poverty statistics on the same basis as those contained in the most recent Households Below Average Income figures for each  (a) district and  (b) unitary authority in Hampshire in 2006-07.

Stephen Timms: Our child poverty statistics, published in the Households Below Average Income series, allow a breakdown of child poverty by Government office region.
	The information requested is not available below the level of Government office region.

Social Security Benefits

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the criteria are for eligibility for signing on for benefits by telephone rather than in person at a Jobcentre Plus.

Stephen Timms: holding answer 19 June 2008
	 The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus, Lesley Strathie. I have asked her to provide my hon. Friend with the information requested.
	 Letter from Lesley Strathie, dated 24 June 2008:
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question asking what the criteria are for eligibility for signing on for benefits by telephone rather than in person at Jobcentre Plus. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	Regular face-to-face contact is the most effective method of helping people find work quickly, and ensuring they remain entitled to payment of benefit by showing they are actively seeking work. We have tested alternative approaches, including jobsearch reviews by telephone, but these have all resulted in people taking longer to find work and leave Jobseeker's Allowance. Therefore we do not allow customers to sign for benefits by telephone and so have no criteria.

Social Security Benefits: Devon

Hugo Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much and what proportion of each type of state benefits payable to residents in East Devon has been paid into post office card accounts in each of the last five years.

James Plaskitt: The answer is not available in the precise format requested. The following table shows the total POCA accounts and proportion of each type of state benefits payable to residents in East Devon into a Post Office card account in each of the last five years.
	
		
			   December 
			   2003  2004  2005  2006  2007 
			   Total  %  Total  %  Total  %  Total  %  Total  % 
			 Attendance Allowance 0  100 7 110 9 130 12 110 11 
			 Bereavement Benefit 0  0  0  0  0  
			 Disability Living Allowance 10  240 10 300 13 290 12 300 11 
			 Incapacity Benefit 10  150 10 230 16 210 15 190 14 
			 Carers Allowance 0  70 15 80 17 80 15 80 15 
			 Industrial Injuries 0  100 21 100 23 100 22 100 22 
			 Income Support 30 1 230 14 360 22 340 21 300 19 
			 Jobseekers Allowance 0  20 5 30 8 40 8 30 6 
			 Pension Credit 10  840 20 1,190 28 1,160 27 1,110 26 
			 State Pension 130 1 2,580 10 4,280 16 4,030 15 3,800 14 
			 Severe Disablement Allowance 0  10 6 30 14 30 15 20 13 
			 Widows Benefit 0  10 5 20 11 20 11 10 11 
			 Total 190  4,350 11 6,750 17 6,430 16 6,060 15 
			 '' Denotes nil or negligible.  Notes: 1. Numbers are rounded to the nearest 10, percentages to the nearest whole percent. 2. Totals may not sum due to rounding. 3. Figures are taken from latest available data at 22 December 2007. 4. Figures refer to payment accounts. Claimants with more than one account will be counted for each account. Figures only relate to accounts live and in payment on the specified date. 5. Child benefit is now administered by HM Revenue and Customs and war pensions are now administered by MOD. These benefits have therefore been excluded.  Source: DWP, Information Directorate, 100 per cent. data

Social Security Benefits: Overpayments

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how many consolatory payments have been made by his Department to next of kin contacted by the Department or an agency acting on its behalf to recover overpayments of benefits following the death of a claimant in each year since 1997 for which information is available;
	(2)  how many complaints his Department has received from people contacted about recovering benefit overpayments following the death of a claimant.

James Plaskitt: This information is not held centrally and would be available only at disproportionate cost.

Social Security Benefits: Stroud

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  how many people are signing on for benefits by telephone at the Stroud JobcentrePlus office who were in the catchment area of the previous Dursley JobcentrePlus office;
	(2)  how many people who are signing on for benefits at the Stroud JobcentrePlus office, and who are based in the catchment area of the previous Dursley JobcentrePlus office are receiving help with travelling expenses.

Stephen Timms: holding answer 19 June 2008
	 The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus, Lesley Strathie. I have asked her to provide my hon. Friend with the information requested.
	 Letter from Lesley Strathie, dated 24 June 2008:
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your questions asking how many people are signing on for benefits by telephone at the Stroud Jobcentre Plus office who were in the catchment area of the previous Dursley Jobcentre Plus office and how many people signing on for benefits at the Stroud Jobcentre Plus office and who are based in the catchment area of the previous Dursley Jobcentre Plus office are receiving help with travel expenses. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	Stroud Jobcentre Plus does not have any telephone signers on their register, we do not allow customers to sign for benefits by telephone.
	Current legislation does not provide for the reimbursement of fares to Jobseeker's Allowance customers for their normal fortnightly attendance. There are circumstances in which it is unreasonable to expect people to attend the Jobcentre and where reimbursement of travel expenses is appropriate. For example when they have been asked to attend on a weekly basis or when their signing day has been changed at short notice.
	We do have provision to allow customers to maintain their claim by post if it is felt unreasonable to expect them to attend the office in person. There are currently no postal signers at the Stroud Jobcentre Plus office.

Television

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much his Department spent on  (a) commissioning and  (b) funding the production of television programmes (i) in each of the last three years and (ii) in 2008-09 to date; what programmes these were; and which companies made them.

Anne McGuire: The Department has not spent any money commissioning or funding the production of television programmes in the last three years, and to date in 2008-09.

Written Questions: Government Responses

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he expects to answer Question 177497 on pension credit and pension guarantee credit, tabled by the hon. Member for Hendon on 7 January 2008.

Mike O'Brien: holding answer 29 January 2008
	 I replied to my hon. Friend's question on 18 February 2008,  Official Report, column 254W.

Written Questions: Government Responses

Clive Betts: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he will reply to Question 189633, tabled on 22 February 2008, on TICC Ltd.

Stephen Timms: holding answer 29 April 2008
	 I replied to my hon. Friend's question on 13 June 2008,  Official Report, column 624W.

HEALTH

Abortion

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what information he has on the number of partial birth abortions performed in each primary care trust in the last year for which figures are available; and what the  (a) length of gestation of the pregnancy and  (b) the reason for the abortion was in each of those cases;
	(2)  if he will introduce legislation to ban the use of partial birth abortion in late pregnancy; what discussions he has had with the medical profession about this method of abortion; what representations he has received since January 2007 about the issue; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: We are not aware of the procedure referred to as 'partial-birth abortion' being used in Great Britain.
	It is the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists' belief that this form of abortion is never used as a primary or pro-active technique.
	There are no plans to introduce legislation to ban this procedure.
	The Department has approximately five letters from members of the public on this issue since January 2007.

Abortion

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidelines on the publication of abortion statistics have been produced by  (a) his Department and  (b) the Office for National Statistics; who was consulted prior to the finalisation of these guidelines; if he will place a copy of these guidelines in the Library; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: In 2005, the Department asked the National Statistician to produce guidance on the disclosure of health statistics, including abortion statistics.
	The Office for National Statistics (ONS) chaired the project board with representatives from ONS (business areas, methodology, legal services), the Department, East Region Public Health Observatory, Information Centre for Health and Social Care, Welsh Assembly Government, NHS Scotland and Northern Ireland Department of Health, Social Service and Public Safety. There was also a public consultation.
	Guidance on the disclosure of abortion statistics was published by ONS in July 2005 and the health statistics guidance in October 2006, copies of which have been placed in the Library. The abortion guidance is currently being reviewed by ONS and any revisions will be in line with the generic health guidance and the Government Statistical Service Statistics Disclosure Control policy.

Abortion

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many abortions took place in  (a) NHS hospitals and ( b) non-NHS hospitals or institutions at (i) 23, (ii) 24, (iii) 25, (iv) 26, (v) 27, (vi) 28, (vii) 29, (viii) 30 and (ix) 31 weeks period of gestation in each year since 1991; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  on what grounds each abortion took place in  (a) NHS hospitals and  (b) non-NHS hospitals or institutions at (i) 23, (ii) 24, (iii) 25, (iv) 26, (v) 27, (vi) 28, (vii) 29, (viii) 30 and (ix) 31 weeks period of gestation in each year since 1991; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: The information is shown in the followings tables.
	
		
			  Abortions by gestation 23-31 weeks, grounds and place of termination, residents of England and Wales, 1991  to  2007 
			  23 weeks gestation( 1)  1991  1992  1993  1994  1995  1996  1997  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006  2007 
			  National health service hospitals( 2)  
			 Section 1 (1)(a) and other grounds except section 1 (1)(d) (3)46 11 (4)62 15 16 14 10 13 14 12 (5)78 (6)98 17 11 13 (7)128 29 
			 Section 1 (1)(d) (3) 37 (4) 45 57 65 61 72 86 90 (5) (6) 107 100 102 (7) 87 
			   
			  Non NHS place  
			 Section 1(1)(a) and other 309 215 255 237 218 297 304 346 379 373 433 435 406 352 221 382 325 
			 Total 23 weeks 355 263 317 297 291 376 375 431 479 475 511 533 530 463 336 510 441 
		
	
	
		
			  24 to 31 weeks gestation  1991  1992  1993  1994  1995  1996  1997  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006  2007 
			  NHS hospital( 8)  
			  Section 1(1)(d)( 9)  
			 24 34 31 25 26 39 21 24 11 25 22 24 33 41 41 38 34 29 
			 25 18 15 21 23 11 27 10 12 20 20 21 19 22 21 26 22 23 
			 26(2) (10)24 (11)11 (12)21 20 10 16 20 (13)18 (14)13 13 (18)21 11 (19)24 (20)20 (21)29 (22)24 (23)25 
			 27(2) (10) (11) (12) 6 4 7 6 (13) (14) 8 (18) 10 (19) (20) (21) (22) (23) 
			 28(2) (15)14 (16)14 (17)13 10 11 9 3 5 7 9 8 (24)25 (25)27 (26)24 (27)20 (28)22 (29)35 
			 29(2) (15) (16) (17) 8 5 7 7 6 3 2 4 (24) (25) (26) (27) (28) (29) 
			 30(2) (15) (16) (17) 3 2 6 1 4 4 7 4 (24) (25) (26) (27) (28) (29) 
			 31(2) (15) (16) (17) 2 5 1 3 5 3 3 5 (24) (25) (26) (27) (28) (29) 
			 (1) Includes 24 weeks and 0 days. (2) Where section 1(1)(a) of the Abortion Act 1967 is grouped with other grounds, and where gestations are grouped, all totals for other grounds and gestations are less than 10 and have not been previously published. This suppression is in line with the Office for National Statistics' guidance on the disclosure of abortion statistics (2005). (8) All abortions at 24 weeks and over are performed in NHS hospitals. (9) For gestations of 24 weeks and over, totals may include a very small number of abortions carried out under section 1(1)(b), section 1(1)(c) and section 1(4). Section 1 (1)(a): that the pregnancy has not exceeded its twenty-fourth week and that the continuance of the pregnancy would involve risk, greater than if the pregnancy were terminated, of injury to the physical or mental health of the pregnant woman. Section 1 (1)(d): that there is a substantial risk that if the child were born it would suffer from such physical or mental abnormalities as to be seriously handicapped. Other grounds includes: Section 1(1)(b): that the termination is necessary to prevent grave permanent injury to the physical or mental health of the pregnant woman. Section 1 (1)(c): that the continuance of the pregnancy would involve risk to the life of the pregnant woman, greater than if the pregnancy were terminated. Section 1 (1)(d): that there is a substantial risk that if the child were born it would suffer from such physical or mental abnormalities as to be seriously handicapped. Section 1 (4): that the termination is immediately necessary to save the life or to prevent grave permanent injury to the physical or mental health of the pregnant woman.

Abortion

Ann Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  whether he plans to liberalise the law relating to abortion in England and Wales;
	(2)  if he will bring forward legislation to amend the Abortion Act 1967;
	(3)  what recent representations he has received  (a) supporting and  (b) opposing the liberalisation of legislation relating to abortion.

Dawn Primarolo: It is accepted parliamentary practice that proposals for changes in the law on abortion come from Back-Bench Members and that decisions are made on the basis of free votes. The Government have no plans to change the law on abortion.
	During 2008, we have received 200 letters on issues relating to abortion and around 1,650 letters about the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Bill, some of which have mentioned abortion. Records are not kept on how many of these support or oppose liberalising the law on abortion.

Alcoholic Drinks: Greater London

Sarah Teather: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many hospital admissions for conditions related to  (a) alcohol abuse and  (b) drug abuse there were in each London primary care trust in each of the last five years.

Dawn Primarolo: Information on hospital admissions for conditions related to alcohol abuse and drug abuse is not collected centrally.

Bone Cancer

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much his Department has spent on research into bone cancer in each of the last five years.

Dawn Primarolo: Over the last 10 years, the main part of the Department's research and development budget has been allocated to and managed by national health service organisations. Those organisations have accounted for their use of the allocations they have received from the Department in an annual research and development report. The reports identify total, aggregated expenditure on national priority areas, including cancer. They do not provide details of research into particular cancer sites.
	The National Cancer Research Institute (NCRI), a United Kingdom-wide partnership between Government, charities and industry, makes cancer research information available online via the International Cancer Research Portfolio database at:
	www.cancerportfolio.org.
	Details of current departmental and Medical Research Council site-specific cancer research can be found through this database.
	The NCRI's 2004 strategic analysis of the directly funded cancer research supported by Government and charities showed that 62 per cent. of total funding was dedicated to supporting research that could be applicable to all cancers.

Bone Cancer

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much his Department has spent on raising awareness of bone cancer symptoms among  (a) general practitioners and other medical professionals and  (b) the general public in each of the last three years.

Ann Keen: In December 2007, the Cancer Reform Strategy (copies of the strategy are available in the Library) established the National Awareness and Early Detection Initiative, led by the National Cancer Director. In order to co-ordinate a programme of activity to support local interventions to increase cancer symptom awareness, the initiative is bringing together and collaborating with representatives of local authorities, the Department, the National Cancer Research Institute, cancer charities such as Cancer 52 (a charity representing rarer cancers, including primary bone cancer), and patient representatives. The initiative will co-ordinate a programme of activity to support local interventions to increase cancer symptom awareness.
	This initiative is in the early stages of development, and appropriate funding will be made available as necessary.

Bone Cancer: Young People

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was spent on treating bone cancer in young people  (a) in Lancashire and  (b) nationally in each of the last five years; and with what rate of success in each case.

Ann Keen: In 2006-07, the national health service spent approximately 4.35 billion on cancer services. Expenditure on bone cancer cannot be separately identified from this figure.
	The relative five-year survival rates for patients aged 15 to 49 in England and Wales diagnosed with bone cancer between 1996 and 1999, and followed up to 2001, were 53 per cent. for men and 60 per cent. for women. For those aged 15 to 99, the survival rates were 44.1 per cent. for men and 54.2 per cent. for women.
	The relative five-year survival rates for children in England and Wales diagnosed with osteosarcoma between 1986 and 1990, and followed up to 1995, were 47 per cent. for boys and 56 per cent. for girls. For the north and north-west region, the rate was 55 per cent. for all children.
	Survival rates figures for England and, more specifically, Lancashire, are not available.

Bone Cancer: Young People

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average time taken to diagnose bone cancer in young people  (a) in Lancashire and  (b) nationally was in each of the last five years.

Ann Keen: This information is not held centrally.

British Association for Immediate Care: Doctors

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance his Department has issued to hospitals on  (a) BASIC doctors attending at the scene of an incident and  (b) provisions to be made to care for their patients during such absences from the hospital.

Dawn Primarolo: The Department has not published any specific guidance to BASIC doctors. However, in the NHS Emergency Planning Guidance 2005, generic advice on pre-hospital care is provided, copies of the guidance are available in the Library. Those BASIC doctors that work full time for the national health service, can only respond to out-of-hospital incidents when they are not on NHS duty.

Carers: Finance

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will break down by budget heading the cost of carrying out the National Carers Review.

Ivan Lewis: holding answer 18 June 2008
	 We undertook an extensive consultation across Government and with stakeholders in carrying out National carers review. The cost of carrying this out was 665,999 exclusive of VAT.
	This figure can be broken down as follows:
	99,693cost of nine regional events;
	114,897cost of four deliberative events, (including one specifically for young carers); and
	451,409cost of the web consultation and research. This figure can be broken down as follows:
	32,525developing and design of the online consultation;
	26,112design and production of Ideas Tree toolkit and PDF;
	6,530input, coding and analysis of the first 1,000 paper responses;
	336,342research element of the nine regional events and two deliberative events; and
	49,900inclusion of members of the public in deliberative events.

Chilvers McRae

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what contracts the NHS has with Chilvers McRae.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department does not hold information on local contracts between primary care trusts and their primary care providers.

Continuing Care: Fees and Charges

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether consequential deductions from state pensions are made in respect of those pensioners receiving NHS continuing care.

Mike O'Brien: I have been asked to reply.
	No. In April 2006, we abolished reductions in state pension entitlement for people in NHS hospitals.

Cord Blood

David Burrowes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many NHS maternity units he estimates will apply for the new cord blood collection licence announced by the Human Tissue Authority on 30th April 2008.

Dawn Primarolo: It is not possible to determine at this stage what proportion of those applying for a licence will be national health service maternity units. The Human Tissue Authority estimates that there are between 50 and 200 procurement organisations. Up to half of these are thought to be related to umbilical cord blood. Some are already licensed and others will be able to work under valid third party agreements which mean that they will not themselves require a licence.

Departmental Public Expenditure

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 15 May 2008,  Official Report, columns 1672-3W, on departmental public expenditure, what centrally determined investment priorities are funded under the programme capital scheme.

Ben Bradshaw: The centrally determined investment priorities that will receive some funding under the programme capital arrangements are listed as follows. National Health Service organisations will receive information shortly on the amounts available for these investment priorities.
	 Description of budget
	Coronary heart disease completing last of major 'Heart Centres' schemes announced in late 2001-02
	Connecting for Health Central Funding for local implementation
	Geneticsmodernisation of services
	Psychiatric Intensive Care Units and 'places of safety'
	High Security Services
	WorkforceMedical school expansion
	WorkforceDental school expansion
	WorkforceRadiological academies and radiotherapy training
	Decontaminationcompletion of programme
	Great Ormond Street 'Phase 2'
	Funds for publicly funded enabling schemes for PFI schemes in procurement Occupational Health Outreach pilot sites
	Funds to support improved energy efficiency in NHS Buildings
	Radiotherapy training
	Hazardous Area Response teams and Emergency vehicles and equipment
	Research and Development Strategy
	NHS Direct
	End of Life Care, grants to be allocated in conjunction with Kings Fund
	Community Hospitals Programme
	Fluoridation
	Learning Disability Grants to permit transfer of service users from NHS facilities to tenanted facilities in community
	Drugs misuse treatment strategyschemes to increase residential drug treatment capacity
	Pilot Healthy living centre for offenders
	Pulmonary Rehab Equipment
	Capital Resource Cover for Wave 1 Independent Sector treatment Centre schemes

Dietary Supplements: Folic Acid

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what limits the Food Standards Agency plans to apply to the level of folic acid in food supplements imported from  (a) Guernsey and  (b) Jersey.

Dawn Primarolo: The Food Standards Agency has no current plans to apply a limit to the level of folic acid which may be present in food supplements imported from Guernsey or Jersey.
	However, commercial imports of food supplements into the UK (including those consigned from Guernsey and Jersey) must comply with relevant food law including the EC Food Supplements Directive. This legislation includes an obligation to set maximum levels for vitamins and minerals (including folic acid) in food supplements on the basis of scientific risk assessment. Levels have not yet been set and work is currently under way with proposals from the European Commission expected in January 2009.

Emergency Services

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance he has issued on major incidents to enable deployment of mobile emergency response incidence teams.

Dawn Primarolo: The NHS Emergency Planning Guidance 2005 describes the arrangements for the organisation of immediate medical care at the scene of a major incident. Copies of the guidance are available in the Library.
	The Department has been working with key stakeholders to develop more detailed guidance on medical response incidents teams. It is hoped that this guidance will be published in autumn this year.
	The guidance will describe the make-up of the team, the training requirements and the categories of incidences the teams will be required to respond to.

Environmental Health

Julia Goldsworthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Health on how many occasions environmental health officers closed premises for public health reasons in each region of England in each year since 1997.

Dawn Primarolo: The Food Standards Agency (FSA) holds information on the numbers of food establishments closed by environmental health officers (by emergency prohibition notices/orders or closure on a voluntary basis) because of their imminent risk to food safety. We can supply this information on an England only basis as we do not collate the information regionally. Non-food establishments may be subject to closure for public health reasons, but data on this would not be collected by the FSA.
	Local authority environmental health officers have powers under food safety regulations to close food premises through either an emergency prohibition notice (or order), or a voluntary closure. In a small number of cases, an emergency notice may be served prohibiting the use of a specified piece of equipment; however, the food business may continue to operate. This information is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Number of food establishments in England subject to:  2006-07  2005-06  2004-05  2003  2002  2001  2000  1999  1998  1997 
			 Emergency prohibition notice/order 241 221 301 215 151 141 139 138 99 85 
			 Voluntary closures 498 385 328 303 262 209 174 248 311 308 
			 Total 739 606 629 518 413 350 313 386 410 393 
			  Note: Data were collected on a financial year basis from 2004-05 but on a calendar year basis prior to this.

General Practitioners

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average distance from a GP surgery to the nearest external pharmacy is in  (a) Cornwall,  (b) each constituency in Cornwall,  (c) the south-west region and  (d) England.

Ben Bradshaw: Information on the distances between general practitioner surgeries and external pharmacies is currently not held centrally.

General Practitioners: Finance

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 7 February 2008,  Official Report, column 1453W, on the Carr-Hill formula review, what revisions have been made to the formula.

Ben Bradshaw: Recommendations on the review of the Carr-Hill formula published 9 February 2007 will form part of the ongoing GP contract negotiations with the British Medical Association. Copies of the Review of the General Medical Services global sum formula have been placed in the Library.

Gifts and Endowments

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what gifts were received by members of staff in his Department in the course of their duties in 2007-08.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department does not hold information centrally about gifts received by members of staff in the course of their duties. To retrieve this information from local sources would involve disproportionate cost.
	All staff are aware of their obligation under the code of conduct, copies of which are available in the Library and on the Department's intranet site, which provides guidance about the acceptance of gifts and hospitality.

Health Centres

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he has taken to ensure that local authorities are fully consulted on the introduction of polyclinics.

Ben Bradshaw: In commissioning new additional primary medical services (additional general practitioner (GP) practices and GP led health centres) the Department has consistently emphasised to strategic health authorities and primary care trusts the need for strong public and clinical engagement in making decisions on the location and the range of services to be provided. The precise scope and nature of the consultation process should be determined locally, but we would expect this to engage with local authorities and their representatives as well as directly with patients and clinicians.

Health Services

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps the Government plan to take to improve care and support services.

Ivan Lewis: holding answer 19 May 2008
	The Government are committed to fundamental reform of the adult social care and support system.
	We intend to hold a national consultation, which will lead to the publication of a Green Paper, to identify options for a new system, which will be fair to all and sustainable for the long term.
	Advances in public health, healthcare and changes in society mean that we are living longer, and as communities become more diverse, the challenge of supporting that diversity becomes more apparent.
	This sort of transformation will require working across the boundaries of social care such as housing, benefits, leisure and transport and health, with partners from independent, voluntary and community organisations to ensure a strategic balance of investment in local services. The importance of this holistic approach is recognised and underpinned by the concordat, 'Putting People First: A shared vision and commitment to the transformation of Adult Social Care', which the Department published in December 2007.
	'Putting People First' sets out the shared aims and values which will guide the transformation of adult social care. It recognises that prevention is one key element of the transformation agenda. The concordat sets out the cross-sector commitment to personalising public services and aims to support all councils to transform their adult social care systems by moving away from intervention at the point of crisis towards early intervention and prevention, focused on promoting independence and improved wellbeing. We are extracting and disseminating early lessons learnt from the Partnerships for Older People Projects programme and related initiatives to support the transformation programme.
	It is for councils to determine the allocation of their resources in their area depending on local needs and priorities. This Government have made unprecedented investments in care and support since 1997, including a 45 per cent. real terms increase in local government funding by 2010-11.
	We have already made 25 million available to councils to help them support carers in a crisis situation. The review of the Prime Minister's Carers Strategy will be published this month and the helpline will be operational later in the year. We are also establishing a training programme for carers. The first face-to-face training will be in place by August and the distance learning version by the end of the year.
	The Government are committed to supporting young disabled people. This is outlined as one of our commitments in the Independent Living Strategy. We will support young disabled people and ensure they experience a seamless transition into adulthood, including those with complex health needs, in all aspects of their life, including between children's and adults' services, as well as housing, transport, employment, education and training.
	On 14 December 2007, the Government announced a 45 million fund to ensure that disabled children in England can take better quality short breaks and to give their families time off.
	Disabled young people in England are also to receive 8.4 million in extra support. Low income families with disabled young people aged 16 and 17 will be able to access a grant through the Family Fund.

Health Services: Developing Countries

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  with reference to the Government's response to the Crisp report on global health partnerships, what progress has been made on guidance on an NHS framework on international development to enable employees in his Department and the NHS to negotiate leave of absence; and what discussions have taken place with NHS employers on the dissemination of such advice to NHS managers;
	(2)  with reference to the Crisp report on global health partnerships, what discussions he has had with  (a) the Secretary of State for International Development and  (b) relevant stakeholders on (i) establishing an NHS framework for international development setting out the principles and rationale for NHS involvement in international partnerships and (ii) identifying a role with oversight of international development activity in each strategic health authority in England.

Dawn Primarolo: Informal discussions have taken place within Government and with a variety of stakeholders on all these issues. There has been a series of discussions between interested Departments to make progress on the proposals described in our response to Lord Crisp's report. The Department of Health and the Department for International Development are in the process of finalising arrangements for the tendering of the framework and 'one-stop shop'. We will be discussing the Government response to Lord Crisp's report, and how we can take forward a marketing strategy as part of the framework, at a future meeting of the national health service strategic health authority chief executives.
	We have also engaged with stakeholders through two meetings in the last month, one hosted by the Royal College of Physicians and a second by the Faculty of Public Health. There will also be discussion with stakeholders at this year's Faculty of Public Health annual meeting in June in Cardiff.
	Finally, the Department of Health and the Department for International Development (will also be attending a meeting to mark the 20th year anniversary of the Tropical Health Education Trust. This will provide a further opportunity to take these areas forward with interested stakeholders.

Heart Attacks

Stephen Byers: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many admissions for suspected or actual heart attacks there were in each hospital accident and emergency unit in  (a) the latest month for which figures are available and  (b) the same month in the preceding year.

Ann Keen: The Myocardial Infarction Ischaemia National Audit Project (MINAP) collects data on treatment of patients with heart attack. To be included in MINAP, patients should have an initial diagnosis of heart attack upon admission. Figures will therefore not include suspected heart attacks, which were subsequently found not to be a cardiac condition.
	Monthly figures are not aggregated at a national level and in many cases will be too small to be meaningful. For comparison purposes, therefore, three months of data for October to December 2006 and the same period in 2007 have been provided. 2008 data are not yet sufficiently complete for comparison.
	For England the number of definite admissions for heart attack was:
	
		
			 October to December  Number 
			 2006 5,343 
			 2007 5,218 
			  Source: MINAP as at 23 June 2008 
		
	
	Figures by hospital within each strategic hospital have been placed in the Library. The majority of patients will have been admitted via accident and emergency departments.

HIV Infection

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his latest estimate is of the number of people with HIV who are unaware that they have the virus.

Dawn Primarolo: The Health Protection Agency's (HPA's) most recent annual estimate is that there were approximately 21,600 adults (aged 15 to 59) living with HIV in the United Kingdom in 2006 who were unaware of their infection.

Hospitals: Overseas Visitors

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was spent on employing overseas visitors' officers in hospitals in the last 12 months.

Dawn Primarolo: The information requested is not available.

Medical Records: Data Protection

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has for the extraction of identifiable information regarding patients from summary and detailed care records and its subsequent storage in an identifiable form on a secondary users database.

Ben Bradshaw: At present there are no plans for the extraction of identifiable information from summary care records for storage in an identifiable form in the secondary uses service. It is possible that, in future, information in an anonymised or pseudonimised form, could be stored on a secondary uses service database.

Medical Records: Data Protection

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to develop further encrypted secure structured data messaging to expedite the transfer of information between the discrete electronic records of clinicians involved in care, with particular reference to those circumstances where clinicians do not share the same detailed care records.

Ben Bradshaw: Information technology systems and applications developed under the national programme or information technology (NPfTT), transmit data, securely encrypted, using either the transport level security (TLS) or secure socket layer (SSL) protocols. This allows applications to communicate across a network in a way that prevents eavesdropping, tampering and forgery. They provide authentication and privacy at each end of the transaction over networks using cryptography. In addition, the programme has delivered NHSmail which allows clinicians to transfer electronic records securely encrypted between users within the nhs.net email domain.
	NHS Connecting for Health is also developing a new service for the NHS, to be delivered over the N3 broadband network, called secure file transfer, to allow large files to be transferred between care settings over an encrypted channel whether they are related to NPfTT systems or not.

Medical Treatments

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance his Department has issued on rapid sequence induction of anaesthesia and intubation; and what categories of personnel are permitted to perform this procedure.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department has not issued any formal guidelines on rapid sequence induction of anaesthesia and intubation. This is a technique carried out only in the most serious emergencies by trained anaesthetists whose professional standards are the subject of guidance from the Royal College of Anaesthetists.

NHS: Belgium

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what consultations the NHS Office in Europe has responded to since its inception.

Dawn Primarolo: The NHS European Office is part of the NHS Confederation and is funded by the strategic health authorities. It was established in September 2007 to inform national health service organisations of key European Union (EU) developments and help the NHS to respond to EU policy and legislative developments on a strategic level.
	Further information about the NHS European Office and its activities is available on the Office's website at:
	www.nhsconfed.org/europe

NHS: EU Law

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what processes are followed under EU competition law when the NHS contracts with private sector clinical services providers; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: Any procurement of clinical services with a value in excess of 139,893 needs to be undertaken in accordance with European procurement law as introduced into the United Kingdom by the Public Contracts Regulations 2006.
	The Department published a PCT Procurement Guide for Health Services in May 2008. This is a guide for commissioners of health care services and provides guidance for them on whether and how to procure clinical services and to ensure that procurements are carried out in accordance with European law and national health service principles and practice. Copies have been placed in the Library and it is also available at:
	www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_084778
	Key requirements of European law relating to the procurement of clinical services include requirements that procurements are transparent, proportionate, non-discriminatory and ensure equality of treatment.
	It is of fundamental importance that procurements are advertised to achieve transparency. As set out in the Principles for Cooperation and Competition copies of which have been placed in the Library published with the Operating Framework. For the NHS in England 2008-09 copies of which are available in the Library, a procurement portal is being established by the Department of Health. Commissioners will be required to advertise all contracts for clinical services on this portal.

NHS: Expenditure

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what  (a) net NHS expenditure and  (b) the annual change in net NHS expenditure was (i) in current prices, (ii) in real terms and (iii) adjusted for NHS-specific inflation in each year since 1997-98.

Ben Bradshaw: The details requested on national health service expenditure are shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Change in NHS net expenditure 1997-98 to 2007-08 
			Percentage 
			   Net NHS expenditure   ( billion)  Percentage  c hange  Real terms change( 1)  Change after adjusting for NHS specific inflation 
			  Cash 
			 1996-97(2) 32.997
			 1997-98(2) 34.664 5.1 2.1 2.9 
			 1998-99(2) 36.608 5.6 3.0 1.6 
			 1999-2000(2) 39.881 8.9 6.8 4.1 
			  
			  Stage 1 Resource Basis 
			 1999-2000(2) 40.201
			 2000-01(2) 43.932 9.3 7.7 5.0 
			 2001-02(2) 49.021 11.6 9.0 6.5 
			 2002-03(2) 54.042 10.2 6.9 6.5 
			  
			  Stage 2 Resource Basis 
			 2002-03(2) 57.049
			 2003-04(2) 64.173 12.5 9.3 7.4 
			 2004-05(2) 69.051 7.6 4.7  
			 2005-06(2) 75.822 9.8 7.5  
			 2006-07(2) 80.561 6.3 3.4  
			 2007-08(3) 89.568 11.2 7.7  
			 (1) Expenditure pre 1999-2000 is on a cash basis. (2) Outturn. (3) Estimated outturn.  Notes: 1. Expenditure figures from 1999-2000 to 2002-03 are on a Stage 1 Resource Budgeting basis. 2. Expenditure figures from 2003-04 to 2007-08 are on a Stage 2 Resource Budgeting basis. 3. Figures are not consistent over the period, therefore it is difficult to make comparisons across time periods. 4. Figures from 2003-04 include a technical adjustment for trust depreciation. 5. Expenditure excludes NHS Annually Managed Expenditure. 6. Gross domestic product deflator at 28 March 2008. 7. Total expenditure is calculated as the sum of revenue and capital, expenditure net of non-trust Depreciation and impairments. This is in line with HM Treasury Guidance. 8. Growth adjusted for NHS specific inflation is only quoted up to 2003-04. This is because the index underlying this calculation was no longer available due to a discontinuity in the data set used to calculate the index.

NHS: Finance

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects to publish his Department's response to its consultation on Payment by Results.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department published its response to the consultation exercise Options for the future of Payment by Results on 24 January 2008. As well as including a summary of the responses received, it also sets out the Department's broad thinking on the way ahead for Payment by Results.
	Copies of the response have been placed in the Library, and can also be accessed on the Department's website at:
	www.dh.gov.uk/en/Consultations/Responsestoconsultations/DH_082424

NHS: Finance

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the  (a) net financial outturn,  (b) gross surplus and  (c) gross deficit of the NHS (i) including foundation trusts and (ii) excluding foundation trusts was in each year since 1997-98.

Ben Bradshaw: The table provides the national health service gross financial position for the years 1997-98 to 2006-07 and the net financial position of the NHS for years 1997-98 to 2006-07.
	The independent regulator for foundation trusts, Monitor, is responsible for reporting the financial position of this sector.
	
		
			   million 
			   Total NHS gross surplus  Total NHS gross (deficit)  Total NHS net (deficit)/surplus 
			 1997-98 119 (240) (121) 
			 1998-99 145 (163) (18) 
			 1999-2000 144 (273) (129) 
			 2000-01 153 (41) 112 
			 2001-02 141 (69) 71 
			 2002-03 302 (206) 96 
			 2003-04 338 (265) 73 
			 2004-05 504 (725) (221) 
			 2005-06 765 (1,312) (547) 
			 2006-07 1,431 (917) 515 
			  Notes: 1. Figures have been rounded to the nearest million. 2. Figures may not sum exactly due to rounding. 3. Figures for foundation trusts are not included. 4. Audited figures for 2007-08 not yet available.  Source: Audited Summarisation Schedules

NHS: ICT

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what objectives Fujitsu  (a) met and  (b) did not meet under the terms of its contract; and what effect the termination of the contract will have on the national programme as a whole.

Ben Bradshaw: Fujitsu Services Limited delivered some specific benefits, for example in the provision of picture archiving and communications systems, to the national health service, but failed to meet key contractual milestones in the core contract, and failed to provide an acceptable remediation plan.
	The consequences for the national programme for IT as a whole from the Department's decision to issue a notice to terminate the contract are expected to be minimal but will become clearer in the period ahead.

NHS: ICT

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he was first informed of difficulties with the Fujitsu contract.

Ben Bradshaw: NHS Connecting for Health, representatives of the national health service locally, and Fujitsu were in negotiation since last summer to address areas of poor product and delivery volumes with the aim of resetting the contract to resolve these difficulties, and in order to address new NHS requirements which had developed since the contract was first let.
	Ministers were regularly updated on the progress of negotiations throughout this period.

NHS: ICT

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the national programme for IT benefits statement for 2006-07 and the report by the Comptroller and Auditor General, HC 484-I, Session 2007-08, whether the annualised recurrent saving of 119.1 million is a net figure inclusive of the cost of the NPfIT services that have taken the place of the cancelled services.

Ben Bradshaw: The 119.1 million figure is for gross savings.

Olympic Games

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many  (a) Ministers and  (b) officials from his Department plan to attend the Beijing Olympic Games; to what purpose in each case; and what estimate he has made of the cost.

Ben Bradshaw: No Ministers or officials from this Department are planning to attend the Games.

Public Participation

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to amend the regulatory regime affecting the work of expert witnesses involved in public consultations administered by his Department.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department has no plans to amend the regulatory regime affecting the work of expert witnesses involved in public consultations. Public consultations undertaken by the Department and its agencies are compliant with the Cabinet Office code of practice on consultation. The code and underpinning criteria do not include any reference to the use of expert witnesses.

Sex Change Operations

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many sex change operations were carried out  (a) by the NHS and  (b) privately in each of the last 10 years.

Dawn Primarolo: The Department of Health does not collect such information from private healthcare providers.
	Following is a table containing the total number of finished consultant episodes where an operative procedure for sexual transformation has been performed in the NHS for the period 1997-98 to 2006-07.
	
		
			   Finished consultant episodes 
			 2006-07 155 
			 2005-06 146 
			 2004-05 144 
			 2003-04 128 
			 2002-03 118 
			 2001-02 109 
			 2000-01 98 
			 1999-2000 68 
			 1998-99 65 
			 1997-98 78

Sex Change Operations

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what counselling is provided before a sex change operation is carried out  (a) by the NHS and  (b) privately; and what criteria must be met.

Dawn Primarolo: In the NHS, protocols for care pathways for the treatment of gender dysphoria are established locally and so vary. The general pattern would begin by the patients being referred by their general practitioners to a psychiatrist and/or psychologist for assessment.
	The Department does not provide specific guidance on treatment for gender dysphoria to private health care establishments.

Smoking: Young People

David Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he plans to take to reduce levels of smoking among teenagers.

Dawn Primarolo: Reducing smoking among young people is a priority for the Government. Much has already been achieved in this area, including raising the age of sale of tobacco products, legislation to strengthen sanctions available against retailers who persistently sell tobacco to children and young people and smoking is address in the national curriculum and through the Healthy Schools programme.
	Protecting children and young people from smoking is one of four key aspects of the Department's Consultation on the future of tobacco control published on 31 May 2008. Responses to the consultation will inform the development of a new strategy on tobacco control, which will include action to continue to tackle the uptake of smoking by young people.

Social Workers: Manpower

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he is taking to increase the number of practising social workers.

Ivan Lewis: holding answer 23 June 2008
	The Adult Social Care Workforce Strategy, which the Department plans to launch in October 2008, will help employers recruit and retain social workers.
	In addition, in 2008-09 we are investing 98 million to continue to support social work education and training. Of this, 62 million is for financial support to social work students undertaking the generic social work degree and this provides a full-time undergraduate student, studying outside London, with a non-repayable, non-means tested bursary of 4,575 and 28 million supports high quality practice placements.
	A further 5.5 million supports social work education and training at pre and post qualifying levels, at a regional level, through the Social Work Partnership jointly managed by Skills for Care and Children's Workforce Development Council. The remaining 2.5 million will support the development of the newly qualified social worker status in adults' social care.

Stem Cells

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what  (a) diseases and  (b) conditions have been treated using materials created by research on (i) embryonic stem cells and (ii) adult stem cells since December 2007; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: The Department does not routinely collect such information.
	Research on adult stem cell therapies, such as bone marrow transplantation, has been undertaken for over half a century. The biological properties of these stem cells have been exploited over the past several decades to develop a number of highly successful treatments including bone marrow transplantsfor leukaemia and other haematopoietic conditions, corneal transplants, related donor cord blood transplants and skin grafting.
	Human embryonic stem cells were first identified in 1996. Scientific opinion remains that research in these areas will revolutionise the treatment for such conditions in the 21(st) century but it is still too early to speak of cures.

Television

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much his Department spent on  (a) commissioning and  (b) funding the production of television programmes (i) in each of the last three years and (ii) in 2008-09 to date; what programmes these were; and which companies made them.

Dawn Primarolo: We have not commissioned or funded the production of any television programmes in the last three years or in 2008-09 to date.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Alcoholic Drinks: Crime

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of arrests in  (a) Chorley,  (b) the North West and  (c) England related to activity attributed to excessive alcohol consumption in each year since 1997.

Vernon Coaker: The arrests collection held by the Ministry of Justice covers persons arrested for recorded crime (notifiable offences) only. Details of the circumstances of an arrest are not collected centrally.
	Summary offences of 'being drunk and disorderly' are non-notifiable and as a result are not covered by the collection.

Alcoholic Drinks: Misuse

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much her Department spent on its recent advertising campaign on binge drinking.

Vernon Coaker: At present, 2.3 million has been spent on production costs for advertisements and media booking costs for the summer activity for the 'Know your Limits' campaign.
	The overall budget for financial year 2008-09 for the campaign is 4 million which includes; TV, radio, print, outdoor and digital advertising as well as production costs.

Alcoholic Drinks: Young People

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many  (a) 10 to 13,  (b) 14 to 15 and  (c) 16 to 17 year olds were (i) cautioned, (ii) prosecuted and (iii) given a penalty notice for purchasing alcohol under age in each of the last five years, broken down by police force area.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 31 March 2008
	The number of young persons aged; 10 to 13, 14 to 15 and 16 to 17-year-olds who were issued with a reprimand/final warning, or proceeded against at magistrates courts, for the offence of purchasing alcohol while under the age of 18 years can be viewed in the following tables 1 and 2. From June 2000, cautions for offenders under 18-years-old were replaced by reprimands and final warnings.
	The number of young persons aged 16 to 17 who were issued with a penalty notice for disorder (PND) for the offence of purchasing alcohol while under the age of 18 years can be viewed in table 3.
	
		
			  Table 1:  N umber of young persons under the age of 18 years, proceeded against at magistrates courts by certain age groups, for the offence of purchase of alcohol by an individual under 18( 1) , by police force areas in England and Wales, for the years 2002 to 2006( 1, 2, 3, 4) 
			   Proceeded against 
			  Force and age group  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006 
			  Avon and Somerset  
			 10 to 13  
			 14 to 15  
			 16 to 17  
			   
			  Bedfordshire  
			 10 to 13  
			 14 to 15  
			 16 to 17  
			   
			  Cambridgeshire  
			 10 to 13  
			 14 to 15  
			 16 to 17  
			   
			  Cheshire  
			 10 to 13  
			 14 to 15  
			 16 to 17  1
			   
			  City of London  
			 10 to 13  
			 14 to 15  
			 16 to 17  
			   
			  Cleveland  
			 10 to 13  
			 14 to 15  
			 16 to 17   1   
			   
			  Cumbria  
			 10 to 13  
			 14 to 15 1 
			 16 to 17  1 1  2 
			   
			  Derbyshire  
			 10 to 13  
			 14 to 15  
			 16 to 17 1 
			   
			  Devon and Cornwall  
			 10 to 13  
			 14 to 15 1 
			 16 to 17 1 
			   
			  Dorset  
			 10 to 13  
			 14 to 15  
			 16 to 17  
			   
			  Durham  
			 10 to 13  
			 14 to 15 1 
			 16 to 17 1 
			   
			  Essex  
			 10 to 13  
			 14 to 15  
			 16 to 17   1   
			   
			  Gloucestershire  
			 10 to 13  
			 14 to 15  
			 16 to 17  
			   
			  Greater Manchester  
			 10 to 13  
			 14 to 15  1
			 16 to 17 1 2  1  
			   
			  Hampshire  
			 10 to 13  
			 14 to 15  1   1 
			 16 to 17   2 3  
			   
			  Hertfordshire  
			 10 to 13  
			 14 to 15  
			 16 to 17  
			   
			  Humberside  
			 10 to 13  
			 14 to 15  
			 16 to 17   1   
			   
			  Kent  
			 10 to 13  
			 14 to 5  
			 16 to 171  
			   
			  Lancashire  
			 10 to 13  
			 14 to 15  
			 16 to 17 1  1   
			   
			  Leicestershire  
			 10 to 13  
			 14 to 15  
			 16 to 17  
			  Lincolnshire  
			 10 to 13  
			 14 to 15  
			 16 to 17  
			   
			  Merseyside  
			 10 to 13  
			 14 to 15 1 1 1   
			 16 to 17 1  1 1  
			   
			  Metropolitan Police  
			 10 to 12  
			 14 to 15  1
			 16 to 17  
			   
			  Norfolk  
			 10 to 13  
			 14 to 15  
			 16 to 17  
			   
			  North Yorkshire  
			 10 to 13  
			 14 to 15  
			 16 to 17  2  2  
			   
			  Northamptonshire  
			 10 to 13  
			 14 to 15  
			 16 to 17  
			   
			  Northumbria  
			 10 to 13  
			 14 to 15  
			 16 to 17 1 1  3 2 
			   
			  Nottinghamshire  
			 10 to 13  
			 14 to 15  
			 16 to 17 1 
			   
			  South Yorkshire  
			 10 to 13  
			 14 to 15  
			 16 to 17  
			   
			  Staffordshire  
			 10 to 13  
			 14 to 15  
			 16 to 17 2 2 1   
			   
			  Suffolk  
			 10 to 13  
			 14 to 15  
			 16 to 17  
			   
			  Surrey  
			 10 to 13  
			 14 to 15  
			 16 to 17  
			   
			  Sussex  
			 10 to 13  
			 14 to 15  
			 16 to 17 1 
			   
			  Thames Valley  
			 10 to 13  
			 14 to 15  
			 16 to 171  
			   
			  Warwickshire  
			 10 to 13  
			 14 to 15  
			 16 to 17  
			   
			  West Mercia  
			 10 to 13  
			 14 to 15  
			 16 to 17  
			   
			  West Midlands  
			 10 to 13  
			 14 to 15  
			 16 to17  
			   
			  West Yorkshire  
			 10 to 13  
			 14 to 15  
			 16 to 17  
			   
			  Wiltshire  
			 10 to 13  
			 14 to 15  
			 16 to 17  
			   
			  Dyfed-Powys  
			 10 to 13  
			 14 to 15  
			 16 to 17  
			   
			  Gwent  
			 10 to 13  
			 14 to 15  
			 16 to 171  
			   
			  North Wales  
			 10-13  
			 14-15  
			 16-17 1 
			   
			  South Wales  
			 10 to 13  
			 14 to 15  
			 16 to 171  
			  England and Wales  
			 10 to 13 0 0 0 0 0 
			 14 to 15 3 4 1 0 2 
			 16 to 17 10 9 9 14 6 
			  = Nil.  (1) Data include the following offence descriptions and corresponding statutes: Person under 18 buying or attempting to buy or consuming intoxicating liquor. Person under 18 buying or consuming intoxicating liquor in licensed premises. Licensing (Occasional Permissions) Act 1983 Schedule (section 3) para 4(2). Licensing Act 1964 section 169(2). Purchase of alcohol by an individual under 18. Licensing Act 2003 section 149(1)(7a).  (2) These data are on the principal offence basis.  (3) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts, other agencies, and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.  (4) The Licensing Act 2003 came into force on 24 November 2005.   Source:  Court proceedings data held by CJEAUOffice for Criminal Justice ReformMinistry of Justice. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2:  N umber of young persons under the age of 18 years issued with a reprimand or final warning by certain age groups for the offence purchase of alcohol by an individual under 18( 1)  by police force areas in England and Wales for the years 2002 to 2006( 1, 2, 3, 4) 
			   Reprimands/Final warnings 
			  Force and age group  2002  2003  2004  2005  2006 
			  Avon and Somerset  
			 10 to 13  
			 14 to 15  
			 16 to 17  
			   
			  Bedfordshire  
			 10 to 13  
			 14 to 15  
			 16 to 17  
			   
			  Cambridgeshire  
			 10 to 13  
			 14 to 15  
			 16 to 17  
			   
			  Cheshire  
			 10 to 13  
			 14 to 15  
			 16 to 17  
			   
			  City of London  
			 10 to 13  
			 14 to 15  
			 16 to 17  
			   
			  Cleveland  
			 10 to 13  
			 14 to 15 1 1
			 16 to 17  1
			   
			  Cumbria  
			 10 to 13  
			 14 to 15  1 2 1  
			 16 to 17 4 2 9 4 1 
			   
			  Derbyshire  
			 10 to 13  
			 14 to 15  
			 16 to 17  1
			   
			  Devon and Cornwall  
			 10 to 13  
			 14 to 15  
			 16 to 17  
			   
			  Dorset  
			 10 to 13  
			 14 to 15  
			 16 to 17 1 
			   
			  Durham  
			 10 to 13  
			 14 to 15  
			 16 to 17  1   1 
			   
			  Essex  
			 10 to 13  
			 14 to 15 1 
			 16 to 17  
			   
			  Gloucestershire  
			 10 to 13  
			 14 to 15  
			 16 to 17  
			   
			  Greater Manchester  
			 10 to 13 1 
			 14 to 15 2 
			 16 to 17 4 
			   
			  Hampshire  
			 10 to 13  
			 14 to 15  
			 16 to 17   1  1 
			   
			  Hertfordshire  
			 10 to 13  
			 14 to 15  
			 16 to 17 1 
			   
			  Humberside  
			 10 to 13  
			 14 to 15  
			 16 to 17  
			   
			  Kent  
			 10 to 13  
			 14 to 15  
			 16 to 17  
			   
			  Lancashire  
			 10 to 13  
			 14 to 15  
			 16 to 17  1
			   
			  Leicestershire  
			 10 to 13  1
			 14 to 15  1
			 16 to 17 1 
			  Lincolnshire  
			 10 to 13  
			 14 to 15  
			 16 to 17  
			   
			  Merseyside  
			 10 to 13  
			 14 to 15  
			 16 to 17   4   
			   
			  Metropolitan Police  
			 10 to 13  
			 14 to 15  
			 16 to 17  
			   
			  Norfolk  
			 10 to 13  
			 14 to 15  
			 16 to 17  
			   
			  North Yorkshire  
			 10 to 13  
			 14 to 15  
			 16 to 17 1  2  2 
			   
			  Northamptonshire  
			 10 to 13  
			 14 to 15  
			 16 to 17  
			   
			  Northumbria  
			 10 to 13  1
			 14 to 15  4 1 2 1 
			 16 to 17 3  2 7 1 
			   
			  Nottinghamshire  
			 10 to 13  
			 14 to 15  
			 16 to 17   -   
			   
			  South Yorkshire  
			 10 to 13  
			 14 to 15   1  1 
			 16 to 171  
			   
			  Staffordshire  
			 10 to 13  
			 14 to 15  2   1 
			 16 to 7  1  2  
			   
			  Suffolk  
			 10 to 13  
			 14 to 15  
			 16 to 17 1 
			   
			  Surrey  
			 10 to 13  
			 14 to 15  
			 16 to 171  
			   
			  Sussex  
			 10 to 13  
			 14 to 151  
			 16 to 17 1 1
			   
			  Thames Valley  
			 10 to 13  
			 14 to 15  
			 16 to 17  
			   
			  Warwickshire  
			 10 to 13  
			 14 to 15  
			 16 to 17  
			   
			  West Mercia  
			 10 to 13 1 
			 14 to 15   3   
			 16 to 17   2   
			   
			  West Midlands  
			 10 to 13  
			 14 to 15  
			 16 to 17  
			   
			  West Yorkshire  
			 10 to 13  
			 14 to 15  
			 16 to 17  
			   
			  Wiltshire  
			 10 to 13  
			 14 to 153  
			 16 to 17  
			   
			  Dyfed-Powys  
			 10 to 13  
			 14 to 15  3
			 16 to 17  4 5   
			   
			  Gwent  
			 10 to 13  1
			 14 to 15 1 
			 16 to 17  
			   
			  North Wales  
			 10 to 13  
			 14 to 15  
			 16 to 17  
			   
			  South Wales  
			 10 to 13  
			 14 to 15  
			 16 to 17  
			  England and Wales  
			 10 to 13 1 3 0 0 1 
			 14 to 15 5 12 7 7 3 
			 16 to 17 16 12 25 15 7 
			  = Nil.  (1) Data include the following offence descriptions and corresponding statutes: Person under 18 buying or attempting to buy or consuming intoxicating liquor. Person under 18 buying or consuming intoxicating liquor in licensed premises. Licensing (Occasional Permissions) Act 1983 schedule (section 3) para 4(2). Licensing Act 1964 section 169(2). Purchase of alcohol by an individual under 18. Licensing Act 2003 section 149(l)(7a).  (2) These data are on the principal offence basis.  (3) From 1 June 2000 the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 came into force nationally and removed the use of cautions for persons under 18 and replaced them with reprimands and final warnings. Reprimands and final warnings are included in the data.  (4) The Licensing Act 2003 came into force on 24 November 2005.  (5) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts, other agencies, and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.   Source:  Court proceedings data held by CJEAUOffice for Criminal Justice ReformMinistry of Justice. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 3:  N umber of young persons aged 16 to 17 years issued with a penalty notice for disorder for the offence buying or attempting to buy alcohol by person under 18 in England and Wales for the years 2005 to 2006( 1, 2, 3) 
			   Buying alcohol by person under 18  Buying or attempting to buy alcohol by person under 18 
			  Police force  2005( 4)  2006 
			 Avon and Somerset   
			 Bedfordshire   
			 British Transport Police  1 
			 Cambridgeshire   
			 Cheshire   
			 Cleveland   
			 Cumbria  4 
			 Derbyshire   
			 Devon and Cornwall  3 
			 Dorset   
			 Durham   
			 Essex 1  
			 Gloucestershire  1 
			 Greater Manchester 1  
			 Hampshire  1 
			 Hertfordshire  13 
			 Humberside 1 2 
			 Kent  1 
			 Lancashire 2 9 
			 Leicestershire   
			 Lincolnshire  1 
			 London, City of   
			 Merseyside 5 7 
			 Metropolitan Police   
			 Norfolk   
			 North Yorkshire  1 
			 Northamptonshire   
			 Northumbria 1 2 
			 Nottinghamshire   
			 South Yorkshire   
			 Staffordshire  7 
			 Suffolk   
			 Surrey  1 
			 Sussex 5 3 
			 Thames Valley   
			 Warwickshire   
			 West Mercia  2 
			 West Midlands   
			 West Yorkshire   
			 Wiltshire   
			
			 England 16 59 
			
			 Dyfed-Powys   
			 Gwent  1 
			 North Wales 1 2 
			 South Wales   
			
			 Wales 1 3 
			
			 England and Wales 17 62 
			 (1) These data are on the principal offence basis.  (2) Data include the following offence descriptions and corresponding statutes: Buying/attempting to buy alcohol by a person under 18. Licensing Act 1964. Buying or attempting to buy alcohol by a person under 18. Section 149(1)of the Licensing Act 2003 (c.17)  (3) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts, other agencies, and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.  (4) This offence came into force on 4 April 2005.   Source:  Court proceedings data held by CJEAUOffice for Criminal Justice ReformMinistry of Justice.

Alcoholic Drinks: Young People

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions there were of defendants aged 10 to 17 years for being drunk and disorderly in each London borough in each year since 1997.

Vernon Coaker: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 10 June 2008,  Official Report, column 189W.
	Data broken down by London borough are not held by the Ministry of Justice.

Antisocial Behaviour Orders: Leeds

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many under 18 year olds were given antisocial behaviour orders in  (a) Leeds West constituency and  (b) Leeds Metropolitan District in each year since their introduction.

Vernon Coaker: Information on the number of antisocial behaviour orders (ASBOs) issued is not collected centrally below Criminal Justice System (CJS) area level.
	ASBOs became available from 1 April 1999. Between 1 April 1999 and 31 May 2000, data on the number of ASBOs issued were not collected broken down by age. Therefore it is not possible to determine how many of the 104 ASBOs issued in England and Wales during that period were issued to young people aged between 10-17 years old at the time the ASBO was issued.
	The number of ASBOs issued to young people in the West Yorkshire Criminal Justice System (CJS) area from l June 2000 to 31 December 2006 (latest available) is shown in the table. CJS areas are coterminous with police force areas.
	
		
			  Number of antisocial behaviour orders ISSUED to juveniles( 1)  at all courts in the West Yorkshire Criminal Justice System (CJS) area, as reported to the Home Office by the Court Service, 2000( 2)( ) 0 6 
			   CJS area West Yorkshire 
			 2000(2) 2 
			 2001 9 
			 2002 11 
			 2003 60 
			 2004 156 
			 2005 115 
			 2006 81 
			 Total 434 
			 (1) Defined as being 10-17 years old at the time the ASBO was issued. (2) From 1 June 2000.  Notes: 1. Previously issued data have been revised. 2. Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used.  Source: Prepared by CJEAU, Ministry of Justice.

Cannabis

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consideration she has given to making the sale and supply of cannabis seeds illegal.

Vernon Coaker: Cannabis seeds are not illegal under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, although the unauthorised cultivation of cannabis seeds and any subsequent supply and possession of cannabis is unlawful. On 7 May the Home Secretary accepted the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs' recommendation to assess the extent to which the trade in cannabis paraphernalia, including seeds, might be more effectively regulated. The availability of cannabis seeds is a concern and this matter is currently under review.

Crime: Victims

Louise Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance her Department provides for the families of those who have died as a result of criminal conduct on the interpretation of  (a) DNA testing and results and  (b) other expert evidence arising during criminal investigations.

Meg Hillier: The Home Office does not produce detailed guidance on the interpretation of DNA test results and other expert evidence intended for bereaved families. However, 'Advice for Bereaved Families and Friends Following Murder or Manslaughter' has been produced with the involvement of victims' groups, and is distributed to bereaved families through police family liaison officers (PFLOs). This document explains how DNA taken from living relatives can be used to identify victims and advises relatives to seek further details from PFLOs. A revised version of this document is expected to be published towards the end of the year.
	A range of guidance on DNA and murder investigation is also produced for police forces. The Association of Chief Police Officers has produced a DNA good practice manual; a murder investigation manual; and a best practice guide on the use of familial searching (i.e. identification through use of relatives' DNA).

Crimes of Violence

Nick Hurd: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many crimes of violence against the person were recorded in Ruislip-Northwood constituency in each of the last five years.

Vernon Coaker: Statistics are not collected specifically on a constituency basis. The Home Office does publish statistics at crime and disorder reduction partnership (CDRP) area level. The number of offences of violence against the person for each of the last five years by CDRP is available on the Home Office website at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs08/cdrpog.xls
	Also available is a look-up table that identifies which constituencies are associated with CDRPs. In many instances, a CDRP may comprise of more than one constituency. Conversely, some constituencies will come within two or more CDRPs, either wholly or partially. The look-up table is available at:
	http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs08/cdrp-constituency-table.xls
	Copies of both the statistics table and the look-up table are available in the Library.

Domestic Violence: Reoffenders

Don Touhig: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures are in place to reduce levels of domestic violence reoffending.

Vernon Coaker: The Government are approaching this issue from two perspectives. Firstly, there is a focus on the protection of victims through the Multi Agency Risk Assessment Conferences (MARACs) which identify those victims most at risk of serious harm and develop interventions to reduce the risk of repeat victimisation and by managing the offender.
	Secondly, three accredited domestic abuse perpetrator programmes have been developed for convicted domestic abuse perpetrators. The Integrated Domestic Abuse Programme (IDAP) and the Community Domestic Violence Programme (CDVP) have been fully implemented in all probation areas in England and Wales. The Healthy Relationships Programme (HRP) is run in custody. To ensure the effectiveness of the programmes, a range of evaluation projects has been commissioned. We are also continuing to support the Multi Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) under which police, probation and prison services in each of the 42 areas in England and Wales work together with social care, health, housing and education services to assess and manage the most serious sexual and violent offenders.
	A domestic abuse strategy for the National Offender Management Service is being developed. This will build upon the principles contained in the National Probation Service National Interim Domestic Abuse Policy and Strategy.

Drugs: Greater London

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what mobile equipment each police force operating in the Greater London area uses to test for the presence of illegal drugs.

Vernon Coaker: As regards drivers suspected of being impaired by drugs, I refer the hon. Gentleman to my answer of 11 June 2008,  Official Report, column 342W. As regards other drug testing, the Drug Interventions programme (DIP) uses drug screening equipment situated in designated police custody suites as authorised under legislation. Of police forces operating in London, only the Metropolitan and City of London Police conduct DIP tests, the British Transport Police do not. Information is not collected centrally on any other tests the police may conduct for the presence of drugs, or any equipment which they use.

Homicide: Bournemouth

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many murders were committed in Bournemouth in each of the last five years, broken down by type of weapon used.

Vernon Coaker: holding answer 19 June 2008
	Information collected centrally about the apparent method of killing for homicides in England and Wales cannot be broken down further than police force area level. Available data, relating to homicides recorded by Dorset police up to and including 2006-07 are shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Offences currently( 1)  recorded as homicide by apparent method of killing, Dorset police force area, 2002-03 to 2006-07( 2, 3) 
			   Year offence initially recorded as homicide( 2) 
			  Apparent method of killing  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07 
			 Sharp instrument(4) 3 6 0 0 2 
			 Blunt instrument(5) 1 2 1 1 0 
			 Hitting, kicking, etc. 0 0 1 1 1 
			 Strangulation(6) 1 0 2 0 0 
			 Shooting(7) 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Explosion 0 0 0 0 1 
			 Burning 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Drowning 0 0 1 0 0 
			 Poison or drugs 1 0 0 0 1 
			 Motor vehicle(8) 0 0 1 0 0 
			 Other 1 0 0 0 1 
			 Not known 0 0 0 0 0 
			 (1) As at 12 November 2007, figures are subject to revision as cases are dealt with by the police and by the courts, or as further information becomes available. (2) Offences are shown according to the year in which police initially recorded the offence as homicide. This is not necessarily the year in which the incident took place or the year in which any court decision was made. (3) Data for 2007-08 are not yet published. (4) Includes knives and other sharp instruments. (5) Including firearms used as a blunt instrument. (6) Including asphyxiation. (7) Including shooting by crossbow. Excludes homicides where firearms used as a blunt instrument. (8) Excluding death by careless/dangerous driving and aggravated vehicle taking.

Homicide: Essex

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many homicides there were in Essex in the last 10 years, broken down by method of killing.

Vernon Coaker: Aggregate data, relating to homicides recorded by Essex police between 1997-98 and 2006-07, are shown in the following table.
	
		
			  Offences currently( 1)  recorded as homicide by apparent method of killing: Essex police force area, combined data for 1997-98 to 2006-07( 2) 
			  Apparent method of killing  Number 
			 Sharp instrument(3) 54 
			 Blunt instrument(4) 10 
			 Hitting, kicking, etc. 20 
			 Strangulation(5) 18 
			 Shooting(6) 10 
			 Explosion 1 
			 Burning 7 
			 Drowning 1 
			 Poison or drugs 3 
			 Motor vehicle(7) 3 
			 Other 17 
			 Not known 11 
			 Total 155 
			 (1) As at 12 November 2007; figures are subject to revision as cases are dealt with by the police and by the courts, or as further information becomes available. (2) Data for 2007-08 are not yet published. (3) Includes knives and other sharp instruments. (4) Including firearms used as a blunt instrument. (5) Including asphyxiation. (6) Including shooting by crossbow. Excludes homicides where firearms used as a blunt instrument. (7) Excluding death by careless/dangerous driving and aggravated vehicle taking.

Human Trafficking

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will attend the meeting of the All Party Group on Trafficking of Women and Children on 24 June in the House of Commons to discuss with the Chief Constable of Gloucestershire the work of Pentameter 2 on trafficking in Britain.

Vernon Coaker: It is the Government's stated position that the operational outcomes of Pentameter 2 will be announced following the end of the operation. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister is unable to attend the event on 24 June due to diary commitments; however I shall be happy to discuss this operation with the All Party Parliamentary Group at a future date as part of my previous commitment to keep the House informed on progress made in tackling human trafficking.

Human Trafficking: Children

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answers of 11 June 2008,  Official Report, column 347W, and 3 June 2008,  Official Report, column 883W, on Human trafficking: Children, if she will  (a) confirm that a full copy of the report will be placed in the Library and  (b) publish the report before the end of June.

Vernon Coaker: holding answer 23 June 2008
	I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 11 June to this question. I can confirm a copy of the summary report will be placed in the Library but cannot say when it will be published as the report is being finalised by CEOP.

Hunting

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases have been reported of threatening or abusive behaviour towards hunt monitors by supporters of hunting with dogs in the last 12 months; what steps are being taken to prevent illegal hunting activity and to enforce the provisions of the Hunting Act 2004; and if she will make a statement.

Vernon Coaker: Data on threatening or abusive behaviour towards hunt monitors are not collected centrally.
	The police have stated their commitment to enforcing the Hunting Act. The Government continue to meet with interested stakeholders and to work closely with the police, through the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) to identify what more can be done to ensure the Hunting Act is effectively and appropriately enforced and to improve detection of illegal hunting.
	ACPO have conducted a survey of local police forces' response to enforcement of the Hunting Act which will be used to inform practical best practice guidance ahead of the start of the hunting season. The Government are also working with ACPO on ways to raise awareness of issues surrounding enforcement of the Hunting Act across the police service, and to communicate the importance of visible enforcement to community policing in rural areas and to the maintenance of public order.
	We are also working closely with the Attorney-General about what more can be done to secure prosecutions where evidence has been presented of Hunting Act offences being committed.
	Twenty-nine individuals have now been convicted of offences under the Hunting Act 2004 which does show that the legislation is enforceable when the evidence presents itself.

Identity and Passport Service: Databases

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent estimate she has made of the error rate in each of the databases operated by the Identity and Passport Service.

Meg Hillier: Currently, replication checks exist between the Identity and Passport Service (IPS) regional and central system databases. These replication checks mean that all IPS issued books are accounted for and no errors exist.
	IPS does receive external feeds of passport data from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, and the processing of these onto the central database creates errors, and an error recycling process. The current error rates are 1.22 per cent.

Members: Correspondence

Mike Gapes: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the UK Border Agency plans to reply to the letter of 24 April 2008 from the hon. Member for Ilford South on his constituent Mr Dominic Brown and the request for a visit visa for Ms Saeeda Begum following the outcome of her appeal on 20 February 2008, reference 1403584.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 6 June 2008
	The UK Border Agency's Visa Services Directorate replied to the hon. Member's letter to the Chief Executive on 3 June 2008.

Members: Correspondence

Clare Short: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when she will reply to the right hon. Member for Birmingham, Ladywood's enquiry of 16 May 2008 regarding Aneesha Sajawal ref: GV100/129558.

Liam Byrne: The UK Border Agency replied to the right hon. Member's inquiry on 9 June 2008.

Police: Pay

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the cost to the public purse of the High Court case between the Police Federation and the Government on the police pay award has been.

Jacqui Smith: We do not yet have complete information on the cost of the Judicial Review concerning the 2007 Police Officer Pay Award. It is estimated the total Home Office legal costs will be approximately 45,000.

Theft: Pets

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many reports of theft of domestic animals in England and Wales there were in each of the last five years.

Vernon Coaker: From the information collected on recorded crime, it is not possible to separately identify those offences where a domestic animal is stolen. Such offences are not specifically defined by statute and they would be included within the 'Other theft' offence classification.

Unfair Practices: Sales Methods

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what value of assets stolen as a result of boiler room fraud was  (a) traced,  (b) frozen,  (c) seized and  (d) returned to victims in each of the last three years.

Vernon Coaker: holding answer 21 May 2008
	The information requested is not available.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

Cancer: Bone Diseases

Nigel Evans: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many people aged  (a) under 18 years old,  (b) 18 to 30 years old and  (c) over 30 years old were diagnosed with bone cancer in (i) Lancashire and (ii) nationally in each of the last five years.

Tom Watson: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 24 June 2008:
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many people aged (a) under 18 years old, (b) 18-30 years old and (c) over 30 years old were diagnosed with bone cancer in (i) Lancashire and (ii) nationally in each of the last five years.
	The most recent available figures for cancer incidence are for 2005. To avoid inadvertent disclosure due to small numbers, figures for age groups 'under 30' and '30 and over' are provided for (i) Lancashire. These are given in the table below, together with figures for those aged (a) under 18 years old, (b) 18-29 years old and (c) 30 years old and over in (ii) England.
	
		
			  Registrations of newly diagnosed cases of bone cancer( 1) , by age group, Lancashire county and England, 2001-05 
			  Persons 
			2001  2002  2003  2004  2005 
			 Lancashire Under 30(2) 3 7 3 6 7 
			  30 and over 8 3 7 8 8 
			
			 England Under 18 94 101 83 65 75 
			  18-29 62 55 63 45 62 
			  30 and over 312 277 273 264 277 
			 1 Bone cancer is coded to C40-C41 in the International Classification of Diseases 10th Revision (ICD-10). (2) Figures for age groups 'under 18' and '18-29' have been added together to avoid inadvertent disclosure due to small numbers.  Source: Office for National Statistics

Cultural Diversity Framework: Procurement

Keith Vaz: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster 
	(1)  which stakeholders are consulted in the process of deciding a supplier to the Cultural Diversity Framework and Approved Supplier List;
	(2)  what the stages are in becoming an approved supplier on the Cultural Diversity Framework and Approved Supplier List.

Edward Miliband: The process for becoming an approved supplier on the Cultural Diversity Framework and the Approved Supplier List are set out as follows:
	The Cultural Diversity Framework was set up in accordance with the Public Contracts Regulations 2006. The framework was advertised in the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU) using the restricted procedure, in trade journals and on Central Office of Information's (COI) buyer profile.
	Suppliers wishing to be on the framework were directed to the pre-qualification questionnaire (PQQ). Suppliers were required to complete the PQQ, which was available for 30 days after publishing. The PQQs were then scored and evaluated against the published award criteria.
	Successful suppliers were invited to the next stage where they were provided with a fictitious brief. Suppliers were given 40 days in which to complete the brief and were asked to pitch at their own premises as part of a site visit. This was also scored and evaluated against published award criteria.
	Those successful at this stage were assessed as to whether they had shown capability to deliver services under each of the published lots and labels, and were given the opportunity to sit on the framework.
	The Approved Supplier List was advertised on the Supply2Gov website, in trade journals and COI's buyer profile. Potential suppliers were required to complete a PQQ, which was available for 30 days after publishing. The PQQs were then scored and evaluated against the published award criteria.
	Successful suppliers were asked to present case study examples at their premises, which were scored and evaluated against the published award criteria. The framework renewal team's recommendations were agreed and signed off by the COI director of news and PR.
	Although no stakeholders were directly involved with the process of selecting suppliers for the Cultural Diversity Framework and Approved Supplier List, the COI undertakes regular formal and informal discussions with a wide variety of those stakeholders during its normal business activities, including the issue of how the framework should be structured and the types of supplier that are needed.

Departmental Aviation

Francis Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster pursuant to the Answer of 31 March 2008,  Official Report, column 521W, on departmental aviation, how many separate air flights were carbon offset by the Cabinet Office in 2006-07 via the Government Carbon Offsetting Fund.

Phil Hope: Since April 2005 all air travel is being offset as part of Cabinet Office membership of the Government Carbon Offsetting Fund.

Departmental Buildings

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how much his Department spent on  (a) new capital investment and  (b) refurbishment of property in each of the last 10 years, broken down by project.

Phil Hope: Information on capital expenditure is contained in the annual resource accounts for the Cabinet Office. Information on expenditure on refurbishment works over the last 10 years, broken down by project, could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Buildings

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what the value of the property held by  (a) his Department and  (b) associated public bodies was at the most recent date for which figures are available.

Phil Hope: The information requested is as follows:
	 (a) Information on the valuation of the Department's property portfolio is reported in the Cabinet Office Annual Report and Resource Accounts, available in the House of Commons Library. Subject to the National Audit Office's annual audit, the Cabinet Office Annual Report and Accounts 2007-08 are expected to be published before the 2008 summer recess.
	 (b) Advisory Non-Departmental Public Bodies (NDPBs) of the Cabinet Office are included in the Cabinet Office Annual Report and Resource Accounts. The executive NDPBs of the Cabinet Office are:
	Capacity Builders (UK) Limited
	Commission for the Compact Limited.
	These bodies publish their own annual accounts.

Departmental Home Working

Bob Spink: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many staff in  (a) the Cabinet Office,  (b) the Prime Minister's Office and  (c) the Office of the Minister for the Olympics are authorised to work from home.

Tom Watson: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Upper Bann (David Simpson) on 28 February 2008,  Official Report, column 1913W.

Departmental Official Residences

Francis Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether the occupiers of the official ministerial residences in  (a) Admiralty House,  (b) Downing Street,  (c) 1 Carlton Gardens,  (d) Dorneywood and  (e) Chequers receive subsistence.

Phil Hope: The allowances payable to Members of the House of Commons and the House of Lords are a matter for Parliament.
	Ministers do not receive departmental subsistence payments.

Departmental Pay

Bob Spink: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what estimate he has made of the average pay per hour worked by  (a) permanent and  (b) temporary staff in (i) the Cabinet Office, (ii) the Prime Minister's Office and (iii) the Offices of the Minister for the Olympics in the last period for which figures are available, broken down by pay band.

Tom Watson: The Prime Minister's Office and the Offices of the Minister for the Olympics form part of the Cabinet Office. The pay scales for permanent Cabinet Office staff by pay band are as follows:
	
		
			  Grade  Hourly rate () 
			  London and Basingstoke  
			 A 21.37 
			 B2 13.97 
			 B-Fst 12.65 
			 B1 11.02 
			 C 8.93 
			 TIS3 17.01 
			 TIS2 14.64 
			 TIS1 10.53 
			   
			  National  
			 A 19.24 
			 B2 13.54 
			 B1 9.85 
			 C 8.15 
		
	
	Information on the average pay per hour worked by temporary staff is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Television

Francis Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what subscriptions  (a) the Cabinet Office and  (b) its agency holds for (i) premium satellite, (ii) digital terrestrial and (iii) cable television channels; and what the cost of each was in the most recent year for which figures are available.

Phil Hope: My Department holds three subscriptions for premium satellite services and the total cost for the 2007-08 financial year was 5,589. The Department does not subscribe to digital terrestrial or cable television services.

Departmental Trade Unions

Bob Spink: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster which trades unions represent members of staff in  (a) the Cabinet Office,  (b) its agency and  (c) the Prime Minister's Office.

Tom Watson: The Prime Minister's Office forms part of the Cabinet Office. The Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS), Prospect and the First Division Association (FDA) have a partnership agreement with the Cabinet Office and represent different sections of Cabinet Office staff.

Manpower: Prime Minister

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what staff have been appointed to work in the Prime Minister's Office since 31 December 2007; and what the  (a) name and  (b) job title is of each such newly-appointed staff member.

Tom Watson: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to him by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 1 May 2008,  Official Report, column 624W. This information is available annually.

Publications: Prime Minister

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what reports have been produced but not published by the Prime Minister's Strategy Unit in each of the last five years.

Edward Miliband: The Strategy Unit works closely, and often jointly, with other Government Departments and external stakeholders on a broad range of domestic policy issues. The majority of Strategy Unit reports lead to published outputs. These can include a White Paper, Green Paper, a statement of Government policy, or a report published in the Unit's own name.
	Further information on Strategy Unit outputs can be found at:
	www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/strategy

JUSTICE

Absent Voting: Fraud

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many successful prosecutions of postal ballot fraud there were in each region of the UK in each of the last 11 years.

Bridget Prentice: The information requested is not held centrally in this form. However, information on the overall number of persons found guilty of various fraud related offences under the Representation of the People Act 1983 between 1998 and 2006 is set out in the following table.
	
		
			  Persons found guilty in England and Wales of various fraud related offences under the Representation of the People Act 1983 
			   Number 
			 1998 6 
			 1999 5 
			 2000 1 
			 2001 10 
			 2002 1 
			 2003 0 
			 2004 3 
			 2005 5 
			 2006 1 
			  Notes: 1. Convictions do not necessarily occur in the same year that proceedings are initiated. 2. Offences under the Representation of the People Act include tampering with nomination and ballot papers etc. making false declarations as to election expenses, bribery, treating, undue influence and personation offences. 3. Figures for 2002 exclude any cases in Staffordshire. 
		
	
	We are also aware that other prosecutions relating to electoral matters have been made under separate provisions, such those relating to forgery or conspiracy to defraud.
	The Electoral Commission has plans in place to analyse the Crown Prosecution files on electoral fraud post 2006. This process will help to provide an up to date record of the number of successful electoral fraud prosecutions.
	We are continuing to work closely with the Electoral Commission, police, political parties and returning officers to raise awareness and strengthen systems to ensure that fraud is detected and prosecuted.

Chelmsford Prison

Simon Burns: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of whether to make HMP Chelmsford a category C prison; and what factors he has taken into account in that assessment;
	(2)  what proportion of young offenders in Chelmsford Prison are  (a) local to the area and  (b) come from outside the local prison catchment area;
	(3)  what steps are being taken to reduce the proportion of young offenders in Chelmsford Prison who come from London and elsewhere outside the catchment area for the local prison;
	(4)  what recent change there has been to the capacity of the young offender facility at Rochester; and what effect this has had on numbers of young offenders from London being placed in Chelmsford Prison.

Maria Eagle: There are no plans, at present, to re-categorise HMP/YOI Chelmsford from a category B local prison and young offender institution to a category C training prison.
	The number of young offenders (YOs) held at Chelmsford who are from Essex is 62. The number of YOs from outside the area is 182. The prison serves some courts from within London.
	Chelmsford serves the YO population for London and the South East of England. In its management of the YO population, the National Offender Management Service tries to ensure that young offenders are held as close to their home area as possible. However, prison population pressures mean that some YOs from outside the local area need to be held at HMP/YOI Chelmsford at present.
	Changes to capacity at HMYOI Rochester have not yet taken place. We anticipate that the planned 300 additional places at Rochester will be available by October this year with around 50 further places expected at a future date. This will enable us to review the YO catchment area for Chelmsford and to consider plans to reduce the number of YOs held there from outside the area.

Departmental Aviation

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many domestic air flights members of  (a) his Department and its predecessor and  (b) its agencies made within mainland Britain in the most recent year for which figures are available; and at what cost.

Michael Wills: The information requested is as follows:
	 Number of Domestic Flights
	The number of domestic air flights taken by members of the Department and its agencies can be provided only at a disproportionate cost, as this information is not held at one central point.
	 Cost of Domestic Flights
	The cost of domestic air flights for the Department and its agencies may be provided only at a disproportionate cost. This type of expenditure is not separately identifiable within accounting systems, as it is included in travel and subsistence as a whole.
	All official travel by Ministers and civil servants is undertaken in accordance with the requirements of the Ministerial Code and the Civil Service Management Code respectively. Copies of these are available in the Library of the House for the reference of Members.

Departmental Conferences

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will list the conferences hosted by his Department in each of the last two years; and what the cost was of each conference.

Michael Wills: It is not possible to provide details of the amount spent by the Department on organising and hosting conferences in the last 12 months as this information is not held centrally and could only be obtained by manually contacting each division within my Department at a disproportionate cost.

Electoral Register

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice when the sanctions in relation to voter registration brought in under recent legislation will be brought into force; and if he will make a statement.

Bridget Prentice: A new offence of supplying false information of any kind to a registration officer in connection with electoral registration, came into force in time for the 2006 annual canvass. Anyone found guilty of the supplying false information at registration can be fined up to 5,000 or sentenced to up to six months' imprisonment.

Electoral Register

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice 
	(1)  if he will bring forward proposals to establish ring-fenced funding for electoral registration officers;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of trends in the annual expenditure of local authority electoral registration officers over the last 10 years.

Bridget Prentice: There are no proposals to ring-fence funding for electoral registration activities. Funding is included in the local authority formula grant issued by central Government. Once these funds are allocated, decisions on how it is utilised are a matter for the local authorities concerned. However, there is also a parallel protocol, which states that unless there is an exceptional reason to do so, money provided to local authorities for discharging their statutory responsibilities should not be 'ring-fenced'.
	There has been no assessment of the trends in the annual expenditure of local authority electoral registration officers over the past 10 years.
	However, section 67 of the Electoral Administration Act 2006 allows the Electoral Commission to set and monitor performance standards for electoral services. In developing standards the Commission undertook a data collection exercise with all electoral registration officers (EROs) in Great Britain following the 2007 annual canvass and published results on April 30 2008. At the same time EROs were asked to supply financial data by 31 July 2008. These results are expected to be published by autumn 2008 and should give us a better understanding of the costs of electoral registration in Great Britain for the last financial year.

Electoral Register

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what mechanisms are in place to  (a) enable,  (b) encourage and  (c) require electoral registration officers to consult other (i) local and (ii) central Government databases to (A) cross-check and (B) augment their compilation of electoral registers.

Bridget Prentice: Electoral registration officers (EROs) are required to take all necessary steps to register eligible electors and were granted the power to inspect records held by any person that the ERO is permitted to inspect.
	The Electoral Commission has issued guidance to EROs encouraging them to use this power and advises of the records that may be inspected which will help to provide and cross-check additional information to assist them in their registration duties.

Electoral Register

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what assessment he has made of the adequacy of funding of local authority registration officers in relation to their objectives to increase voter registration; what assessment he has made of the relationship between additional funding and increased voter registration; and if he will make a statement.

Bridget Prentice: As part of the development of the Electoral Administration Act 2006, which included a new duty to undertake work to ensure all eligible people were registered to vote, a need for additional resources was identified. Monies were made available to support this work as part of the funding provided for the implementation of the Act.
	Section 67 of the Electoral Administration Act 2006 allows the Electoral Commission to set and monitor performance standards for electoral services. In developing standards the Commission undertook a data collection exercise with all Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) in Great Britain following the 2007 annual canvass and published results on April 30 2008. At the same time EROs were asked to supply financial data by 31 July 2008. These results are expected to be published by autumn 2008 and should give us a better understanding of the costs of electoral registration in Great Britain for the last financial year.

Electoral Register

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what assessment he has made of the effect that individual voter registration would have on  (a) levels of voter registration and  (b) the accuracy of the register; and if he will make a statement.

Bridget Prentice: The Government have not made any assessment of the impact that individual voter registration is likely to have on the levels of registration and the accuracy of the register, but we are aware that any new system of electoral registration in GB would need to be tailored to current circumstances, and in particular would need to address the challenge of under-registration.
	The Government are committed to the principle of individual registration. But this will be a far-reaching reform, and it will need to be undertaken with great careboth to make sure a new system is robust, and to ensure that it properly tackles the problem of under-registration.
	Our vision for electoral registration is clear: we want to protect the rights of every eligible person to participate in the United Kingdom's democratic process by ensuring complete, accurate and secure electoral registration.

Electoral Register

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether incentives are available for the participation of local authority chief executives in electoral administration; and if he will make a statement.

Bridget Prentice: Electoral administration in England and Wales is the responsibility of returning officers and electoral registration officers. Although they are by statute local authority officials, they act independently when carrying out their electoral duties. In law, local authority chief executives have no role in electoral administration, however, in practice they are often the returning officer or electoral registration officer and so should be aware of the duties of these posts and their importance.
	The Electoral Administration Act 2006 included at section 67 provisions to enable the Electoral Commission to set performance standards for electoral administration and to require returning officers and electoral registration officers to report on how they have met those standards. The intention is to encourage all administrators to reach the standards of the best. We would expect local authority chief executives to be concerned if their local authority was seen to be under-performing in this area.
	In addition, my Department provides funding through its Participation Fund to electoral officers in support of their duty to take such steps as they consider necessary to encourage electoral participation in their areas. The intention is to encourage electoral officers to pursue activities aimed at increasing awareness of and involvement in the democratic process and raising the profile of electoral issues.

Electoral Register

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will take steps to collect information on  (a) the revenue raised by local authorities from the sale of electoral registers and  (b) the use to which such monies are put; and if he will make a statement.

Bridget Prentice: The Government do not intend to take steps to collect information on the revenue raised from the sale of electoral registers. The fees charged for the sale of the registers are set with a view towards recovery of the costs of administration. Local authorities do not sell copies of the electoral register for profit, as governed by the Representation of the People Regulations 2001 (as amended in 2002).

Electoral Register: Fines

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice which local authorities have initiated proceedings to levy a fine on households who do not submit a register of electors form in response to the annual canvass since the sanction was brought into force.

Bridget Prentice: This information is not collected centrally. However, I understand that only a few local authorities have initiated proceedings for failure to complete and return an annual registration.
	Electoral Registration Officers have a duty to compile and maintain an accurate register and they have a number of mechanisms available to them in achieving this including the new duty. It is a decision for them, whether they initiate proceedings for non-completion of the annual canvass form.

National Offender Management Service

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what rate of interest is paid by the National Offender Management Service when it does not pay invoices promptly in accordance with its procedures.

David Hanson: Where the National Offender Management Service does not pay a valid invoice on time, it will abide by the conditions and rates set out in the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998 as amended 2002 should the supplier wish to invoke its rights under the Act.

National Offender Management Service

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the timescale is by which the National Offender Management Service (NOMS) is expected to pay invoices when full details of the payee have been registered on the NOMS computerised system.

David Hanson: Exact timescales are determined according to the negotiations with individual suppliers, but most commonly the National Offender Management Service contracts stipulate that payment shall be made to the supplier within 30 days of receipt by NOMS (at its nominated address for invoices) of the supplier's valid original invoice, including full seven-digit official purchase order number.

Polling Stations: Warrington

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many applications for grants to ensure disabled access at polling stations were made by Warrington borough council in each of the last three years; and how much was awarded on each occasion.

Bridget Prentice: The Electoral Claims Unit has confirmed that no applications have been received from Warrington borough council for grants to ensure or improve disabled access at polling stations.

Prisoners' Release

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many convicts served sentences of less than seven days of their sentence in prison before being released under the end of custody licence.

David Hanson: No prisoners have been released on ECL after serving less than seven days in custody. Prisoners must serve a minimum of seven days in custody, from date of sentence, before they can be released on ECL.
	The full policy on ECL is set out in Prison Service Instruction 42/2007. This may be found on the Prison Service's website:
	psi.hmprisonservice.gov.uk/PSI_2007_42_end_of_custody_licence.doc

Prisoners' Release

Nick Herbert: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the cost of subsistence payments made to offenders released on end of custody licence since June 2007 was.

Jack Straw: A total of 1,953,854 in subsistence payments is recorded as having been paid to prisoners released on End of Custody Licence (ECL) between 29 June 2007 and 31 March 2008. This figure has been compiled from a number of local data sources, and as such is subject to a margin of possible recording error. During this period a total of 23,716 prisoners were released on ECL. Subsistence payments are made because prisoners on an ECL are released under temporary licence from prison in accordance with the provisions of the Prisons Act 1952 and, as such, are statutorily ineligible to receive benefits payments.

Prisoners' Release: Reoffenders

Nick Herbert: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice pursuant to the answer of 16 June 2008,  Official Report, column 647W, on prisoners' release: reoffenders, how many of the alleged further offences committed by offenders on end of custody licence were  (a) robbery,  (b) burglary,  (c) theft and handling,  (d) fraud and forgery and  (e) drug offences.

Jack Straw: Of the 26,347 offenders who have been placed on the end of custody licence scheme, 894 (3.4 per cent.) have been recalled to custody. Of those offenders notified to NOMS by 16 May 2008 as having allegedly committed a further offence during their period on ECL, nine of the offences were alleged robbery; 41 alleged burglary; 139 alleged theft and handling; four alleged fraud and forgery; and 12 alleged drug offences.

INNOVATION, UNIVERSITIES AND SKILLS

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Research

John MacDougall: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills if he will increase expenditure on research into the biomedical causes and consequences of myalgic encephalopathy.

Ian Pearson: holding answer 23 June 2008
	The Medical Research Council is one of the main agencies through which the Government support medical and clinical research. Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) is a strategic priority area for the MRC and the Council is continuing to promote research in this area. The MRC does not have set budgets for specific illnesses and research proposals in all areas compete for the funding available, The MRC welcomes applications for support into any aspect of human health and these are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards being made on the basis of the scientific quality of the proposals made.
	The MRC currently supports a number of studies in CFS/ME, as follows:
	Professor K. Bhui, Queen Mary and Westfield Collegechronic fatigue and ethnicity (162,000).
	Dr. C. Clark, Centre for Psychiatry, Barts and The London School of Medicinegeneral and specific risk markers and preventive factors for chronic fatigue and irritable bowel syndrome (funding approved in November 2007, 367,000).
	Professor A. J. Weardon, University of Manchesterrandomised controlled trial of nurse led self-help treatment for primary care patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (743,000).
	Professor P. D. White et al, Queen Mary and Westfield CollegeThe PACE Trial: a RCT of CBT, graded exercise, adaptive pacing and usual medical care for the chronic fatigue syndrome (2.07 million).

Departmental Accountancy

Oliver Letwin: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills if he will place in the Library a copy of his Department's  (a) chart of accounts and  (b) resource account codes and usage descriptions for the 2008-09 financial year.

David Lammy: DIUS operates two financial ledgers and therefore has two charts of accounts. Copies of both DIUS charts of accounts will be placed in the Library. The charts of accounts for 2008-09 reflect the Department's structure for the year and will not necessarily reflect past or future years.

Departmental Inquiries

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what independent inquiries have been commissioned by his Department in the last five years; what the  (a) purpose and  (b) cost was of each; and what steps were taken following each such inquiry.

David Lammy: The Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills was created on 28 June 2007. Since then, DIUS has not commissioned any independent inquiries.

Departmental Pay

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how many and what proportion of employees in his Department who received a performance-related bonus at their last appraisal were  (a) male,  (b) female,  (c) from an ethnic minority,  (d) disabled and  (e) not heterosexual; and if he will make a statement.

David Lammy: The Department was created in the Machinery of Government changes announced on 28 June 2007 when staff from the ex-Department for Education and Skills (DfES) and the Department for Trade and Industry (DTI) were incorporated into the new Department. Only staff from DTI (now BERR) have received performance-related bonuses so far as staff who transferred from ex DfES received their performance awards for performance year 2007-08 prior to the Department being created. The following table sets out their numbers and proportions.
	
		
			   HSP  Total staff  Percentage with performance awards 
			  Gender
			 Male 29 130 22 
			 Female 27 83 33 
			  Ethnicity
			 White 29 114 25 
			 BME 8 23 35 
			 Unknown 19 76 25 
			 
			  Disability
			 No 51 181 28 
			 Yes 5 22 23 
			 
			  All staff
			 Total 56 213 26 
		
	
	The figures are based on performance appraisal markings at 31 March 2008. Staff who received performance-related bonuses are those classified as highly successful performers (HSP). Information on those employees who are not heterosexual is not available. Gender, ethnicity and disability figures are based on employee self-declaration,
	Information on bonuses for 2008 for all DIUS staff will available when pay negotiations are settled later in the year.

Departmental Sick Pay

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how much sick pay to staff in his Department and its predecessor cost in the last five years for which figures are available.

David Lammy: Due to the wide range of posts and salary points in my Department, the actual cost of sick pay to staff in the Department could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The Department's general policy for full-time staff is to pay sickness absence on full pay for up to 182 days, followed by sickness absence on half pay for up to 183 days. Sickness absence is unpaid once entitlement to full and/or half pay has been exhausted, unless HR approves payment of sick pay at pension rate.

Departmental Trade Unions

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills which trade unions represent members of staff in  (a) his Department and  (b) its agencies.

David Lammy: There are currently three trade unions recognised in the Department and its agencies and who represent members of my staff. They are the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union, the FDA representing senior staff and Prospect representing specialists such as information officers, economists, statisticians and accountants.

Departmental Training

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills how much  (a) his Department and its predecessor and  (b) its agencies spent on training courses for staff in the last (i) 12 months and (ii) five years.

David Lammy: The Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills was established under Machinery of Government changes in June 2007. This information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Transport

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills when each of his Department's and its agencies' green transport plans were introduced; and if he will place in the Library a copy of each such plan.

David Lammy: DIUS will shortly publish its first Sustainable Development Action Plan as a new Department, which will include its carbon reduction strategy. There will be a number of measures relating to reducing carbon emissions from travel within that strategy. We will place a copy in the Library.

English Language: Education

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills pursuant to the answer of 3 December 2007,  Official Report, column 748W, on English Language: Education, whether he has assessed the effectiveness of the changes introduced to the provision of English for Speakers of Other Languages; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: The intention behind the English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) measures which were introduced from August 2007 was to refocus funding on priority groups of vulnerable learners. We expect ESOL funding in 2007/08 to remain broadly similar to previous years at around 300 million.
	The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) plans to undertake analysis of ESOL data captured through their individual learner record (ILR). This analysis will draw out patterns of delivery in 2007/08 compared to 2006/07, however, this can only be undertaken once full year data is available in October 2008. Any earlier analysis on partial data would require increased assumptions and caveats making the results less robust.
	In addition, I also commissioned an independent impact assessment report. The final report is expected later this month, however, initial feedback suggests a very mixed picture across England with some areas reporting successful engagement with the new ESOL funding measures and others less so.
	As a result of the consultation process, we expect to introduce further changes from September 2009. The consultation has shown broad support for the proposal that ESOL funding should be more specifically targeted to foster community cohesion and integration in our communities. We are developing proposals that will give greater flexibility, more consideration of local needs, and importantly, more of a focus on helping build cohesion in our communities.

Music: Copyright

Derek Wyatt: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills what assessment he has made of the effect of the application of copyright regulations to beneficiaries of musicians and publishers on the music and publishing industries.

Ian Pearson: The Government have made no such assessment of the effect of the application of copyright regulations to beneficiaries of musicians and publishers on the music and publishing industries.
	However, the hon. Member will remember the recent Gowers Review, undertaken in 2006, which looked at the broad framework of copyright and the effect of the regulations on industry.

Student Loans Company: Disclosure of Information

David Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills whether the Student Loans Company has sold any personal data to third parties since 2001.

Bill Rammell: The Student Loans Company has not sold personal data to third parties since 2001.

TREASURY

Carbon Emissions: Finance

David Kidney: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress has been made towards the development of a carbon budget for 2009; which Minister is leading the work on the development of the carbon budget; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Eagle: The Government continue to work to ensure the successful passage of the Climate Change Bill, which will create a statutory duty for the Government to set and meet five-year carbon budgets. The Government welcomed the formation in February of the independent Committee on Climate Change in shadow, non-statutory form, and looks forward to receiving the Committee's advice this autumn, which will include recommendations on the levels of the first three carbon budgets.
	The Government intend to set out the carbon budgets and their plans to meet them next year. Analytical and policy work is being undertaken by Departments and Ministers across Government in preparation for this, under the direction of the Sub-Committee on Environment and Energy of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Development, whose members are listed on the Cabinet Office website.

Departmental Assets

Michael Weir: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer over what period his Department depreciates the asset value of its  (a) vehicles,  (b) computer hardware,  (c) bespoke computer software,  (d) standard computer software,  (e) furniture and  (f) telecommunications equipment.

Angela Eagle: The accounting policy regarding depreciation is disclosed in note 1.4 of the Treasury's Annual Report and Accounts 2006-07 (HC 518). Copies of this document are available in the Library of the House and can also be found at:
	hm-treasury.gov.uk/about/departmental_reports/annual_report07.cfm
	These policies remain in force for 2007-08.

Departmental Buildings

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many  (a) new builds and  (b) major refurbishments were completed by his Department for a cost in excess of 0.5 million in (i) 2005-06, (ii) 2006-07 and (iii) 2007-08 to which the Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method or equivalent was applied; how many such buildings were assessed as (A) pass, (B) good, (C) very good and (D) excellent; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Eagle: No new builds or refurbishments were undertaken by the Treasury during the last three years.

Departmental Buildings

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many  (a) new builds and  (b) major refurbishments for a cost in excess of 0.5 million were completed by his Department in (i) 2005-06, (ii) 2006-07 and (iii) 2007-08.

Angela Eagle: None.

Departmental Ministerial Policy Advisers

Francis Maude: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 27 March 2008,  Official Report, column 351W, on ministerial policy advisers, which former special advisers have  (a) received approval from and  (b) been refused permission by his Department to take up an outside appointment on leaving their post since May 2005.

Angela Eagle: I refer the right hon. Member to the answer given to him by the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on 19 June 2008,  Official Report, columns 1190-91W.

Departmental Voluntary Work

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 25 March 2008,  Official Report, column 50W, on voluntary pay, if he will list the organisations for which members of his Departments have volunteered while on special leave.

Angela Eagle: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave to him on 21 April 2008,  Official Report, column 1691W.

Excise Duties: Fuels

Adam Price: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will commission research on the experience of other EU member states in operating fuel duty derogations in rural areas.

Angela Eagle: holding answer 19 June 2008
	The Government recognises that high fuel pricescaused by conditions in the global oil marketare having an impact on business and families around the UK. For this reason, the Chancellor deferred the planned fuel duty increase of 2p per litre at Budget.
	The Treasury keeps all taxes under review and the Chancellor will consider the case for the planned 2p per litre increase on 1 October at that time. The Government are aware of the fuel duty derogations that operate in other EU member states.

Expenditure: Health

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what expenditure on health has been as a proportion of gross domestic product in each year since 1997-98; and what estimate he has made of that proportion for each year to 2010-11.

Yvette Cooper: There has been an unprecedented investment in health services since 1997. The NHS budget has increased from 35 billion in 1997-08 to 96 billion in 2008-09 and is forecast to increase to 109.8 billion by 2010-11.
	Expenditure on health as a proportion of gross domestic product for 1997-98 to 2006-2007 is given in the Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses (PESA) for 2008, as well as an estimate for 2007-08. The Comprehensive Spending Review did not include projections of future health expenditure as a proportion of gross domestic product.

Income Tax: Tax Allowances

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the cost to the Exchequer of raising the personal income tax allowance by  (a) 1,000,  (b) 2,000 and  (c) 4,000 with a basic rate tax band of (i) 0 to 36,000, (ii) 0 to 35,000, (iii) 0 to 34,000 and (iv) 0 to 32,000; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: Approximate Exchequer effects of increasing the income tax personal allowance and changing the basic rate limit can be derived from table 1.6 Direct effects of illustrative tax changes on the HM Revenue and Customs website at:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/stats/tax_expenditures/menu.htm

Members: Correspondence

Michael Spicer: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he will respond to the letter from the hon. Member for West Worcestershire of 29 April, on the charity ATE, PO Ref 1/56922/2008.

Yvette Cooper: holding answer 9 June 2008
	I have replied to the hon. Member.

Revenue and Customs: Closures

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many members of staff affected by the proposed closure of Truro tax office are to be  (a) relocated,  (b) re-trained and  (c) made redundant.

Jane Kennedy: A decision has not yet been taken on the future of the HMRC office in Truro. HMRC is reviewing all its accommodation to match it to future business needs. On 11 June, it issued proposals for all its offices in Cornwall, including the offices in St. Austell and Truro, both of which are in the hon. Member's constituency. At present, there is a proposal to withdraw from Truro, with the exception of the inquiry centre services which will be maintained in the locality, but no decision has been made to close it.
	Consultation on these proposals runs until 6 August, and it is hoped that decisions will be announced before the end of the year.
	Staff relocation and other options will be examined in more detail during the feasibility stage of the consultation.

Revenue and Customs: Operating Costs

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the average operating cost of tax offices in England was in the last period for which figures are available.

Jane Kennedy: The average fixed accommodation cash running cost in 2007-08 for HMRC offices in England was 205 (net of VAT) per square metre.
	This cost is made up of the PFI unitary charge for the provision of the serviced accommodation in PFI properties, rent and landlord service charge for non-PFI properties, facilities management costs (the provision of soft services, e.g. security and cleaning), business rates and utilities.

Revenue and Customs: Scotland

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many staff were located at each HM Revenue and Customs office in Scotland in each of the last five years.

Jane Kennedy: The following tables show the location of HM Revenue and Customs (and joint numbers of Inland Revenue and HM Customs and Excise) staff recorded as being in offices in Scotland on the 1 April for each of the previous five years (full time equivalent (FTE) and actual headcount).
	
		
			  1 April 2004 
			  Town/city  Building  FTE  Headcount 
			 Aberdeen Custom House 108.1 114 
			  Ruby House 177.44 192 
			 Ayr Russell House 94.36 104 
			 Bathgate Pyramids Business Park 15.53 16 
			 Buckie Moray House 14.65 16 
			 Coatbridge 2 Muiryhall Street 34.26 36 
			 Cumbernauld St Mungos Road 1,325.57 1,478 
			 Dumbarton 15 Meadowbank Street 26.36 28 
			 Dumfries 161 Brooms Road 43.65 48 
			  Government Buildings 3 3 
			 Dundee Caledonian House 236.97 246 
			  Sidlaw House 635.3 676 
			 Dunfermline Merchiston House 36.82 38 
			 Dunoon Auchencraig 11.97 13 
			 East Kilbride Plaza Tower 627.02 674 
			  Queensway House 1,299.92 1,416 
			 Edinburgh Argyle House 5.86 6 
			  Clarendon House 120.44 126 
			  Edinburgh Airport 6 6 
			  Edinburgh Conts Agency CA 13.05 15 
			  Elgin House 346.4 358 
			  Grayfield House 487.26 510 
			  Haymarket House 49 49 
			  Meldrum House 201.48 144 
			  Mulberry House 1 1 
			  Saughton House 383.25 398 
			  Trinity Park House 0.61 1 
			  York Place 268.4 273 
			 Elgin Elgin (Phoenix House) 5 5 
			 Falkirk Grahame House 29.2 32 
			 Galashiels Galashiels BO 3 3 
			  Government Buildings 18.54 22 
			 Glasgow Blythswood House 266.19 281 
			  Cotton House 352.97 372 
			  Glasgow Airport 7 7 
			  Portcullis House 417.9 429 
			  Mosspark 6.68 7 
			 Glenrothes Saltire House 160.32 168 
			 Grangemouth Custom House 38.5 39 
			 Greenock 99 Dalrymple Street 43.32 46 
			  Custom House 59.4 66 
			 Hamilton 1 Barrack Street 41.47 45 
			 Hawick Crown Buildings 14.51 15 
			 Inverness Longman House 10 10 
			  River House 97.47 108 
			 Irvine Marress House 36.68 39 
			 Lerwick Charlotte House 3 3 
			 Livingston Pentland House 275.68 298 
			  Silverburn House 873.56 950 
			 Motherwell 43 Civic Square 33 35 
			 Oban Cameron House 3 3 
			 Paisley Gilmour House 40.97 45 
			  Falcon Osprey and Vigilant House 210.4 212 
			 Perth 1-3 Water Vennel 33.14 36 
			 Peterhead Keith House 21.34 23 
			 Prestwick Cargo House 6.5 7 
			 Rothesay 9 King Street 11.61 12 
			 Stirling 8 Spittal Street 51.68 57 
			 Stranraer Police Station 1 1 
			 Ullapool 24 West Argyll St 1 1 
			 Wick Government Buildings 25.05 29 
			  Custom House 1 1 
		
	
	
		
			  1 April 2005 
			  Town/city  Building  FTE  Headcount 
			 Aberdeen Custom House 110.8 117 
			  Ruby House 170.82 185 
			 Ayr Russell House 85.25 94 
			 Bathgate Pyramids Business Park 311.34 331 
			 Buckie Moray House 15.49 17 
			 Coatbridge 2 Muiryhall Street 32.53 34 
			 Dumbarton 15 Meadowbank Street 22.36 24 
			 Dumfries 161 Brooms Road 46.24 50 
			  Government Buildings 3 3 
			 Dundee Caledonian House 234.41 244 
			  Sidlaw House 618.32 660 
			 Dunfermline Merchiston House 35.33 37 
			 Dunoon Auchencraig 12.54 13 
			 Edinburgh Argyle House 32.65 35 
			  Clarendon House 114.18 118 
			  Edinburgh Airport 5 5 
			  Elgin House 345.13 356 
			  Grayfield House 454.07 478 
			  Haymarket House 45.62 46 
			  Meldrum House 194.22 202 
			  Pentland House 265.38 288 
			  Saughton House 384.38 399 
			  Silverburn House 582.72 629 
			  Stuart House 1 3 
			  York Place 268.2 274 
			 Elgin Phoenix House 5 5 
			 Falkirk Grahame House 28.7 30 
			 Galashiels Government Buildings 22.36 26 
			 Glasgow 2 Corkerhill Gardens 2.81 3 
			  Blythswood House 247.31 263 
			  Cotton House 389.8 408 
			  Glasgow Airport 8 8 
			  Plaza Tower 586.76 634 
			  Portcullis House 475.3 488 
			  Queensway House 1,421.12 1,559 
			  St Mungos Road 1,499.22 1,670 
			 Glenrothes Saltire House 145.14 155 
			 Grangemouth Custom House 35.5 36 
			 Greenock 99 Dalrymple Street 41.46 45 
			  Custom House 62.8 68 
			 Hamilton 1 Barrack Street 42.82 47 
			 Hawick Crown Buildings 14.16 15 
			 Home Address Home Address 2 2 
			 Inverness Longman House 11 11 
			  River House 96.8 108 
			 Irvine Marress House 41.13 44 
			 Lerwick Charlotte House 3 3 
			 Motherwell 43 Civic Square 32.49 35 
			 Oban Cameron House 2 2 
			 Paisley Falcon Osprey and Vigilant House 201.8 204 
			  Gilmour House 33.95 37 
			 Perth 1-3 Water Vennel 33.04 36 
			 Peterhead Keith House 23.5 26 
			 Prestwick Cargo House 6.5 7 
			 Rothesay 9 King Street 10.04 11 
			 Stirling 8 Spittal Street 48.51 54 
			 Ullapool 24 West Argyll Street 1 1 
			 Wick Custom House 1 1 
			  Government Buildings 24.08 28 
		
	
	
		
			  1 April 2006 
			  Town/city  Building  FTE  Headcount 
			 Aberdeen Custom House 106 113 
			  Ruby House 162.26 178 
			 Ayr Russell House 78.55 87 
			 Bathgate Pyramids Business Park 700.8 742 
			 Buckie Moray House 15.28 17 
			 Coatbridge 2 Muiryhall Street 27.88 29 
			 Cumbernauld St Mungos Road 1,652.89 1,960 
			 Dumbarton 15 Meadowbank Street 22.46 24 
			  Government Buildings 2 2 
			 Dumfries 161 Brooms Road 45.02 50 
			 Dundee Caledonian House 215.8 228 
			  Sidlaw House 656.69 701 
			 Dunfermline Merchiston House 34.14 36 
			 Dunoon Auchencraig 11.54 12 
			 East Kilbride Plaza Tower 849.16 934 
			  Queensway House 1,473.21 1,644 
			 Edinburgh Argyle House 30.67 33 
			  Clarendon House 144.23 148 
			  Edinburgh Airport 6 6 
			  Elgin House 330.87 343 
			  Grayfield House 420.8 447 
			  Haymarket House 1.65 2 
			  Meldrum House 191.01 199 
			  Saughton House 368.77 383 
			  Stuart House 1 1 
			  York Place 248.1 256 
			 Elgin Phoenix House 5 5 
			 Falkirk Grahame House 20.2 24 
			 Galashiels Government Buildings 23.62 27 
			 Glasgow 2 Corkerhill Gardens 2.81 3 
			  Blythswood House 221.46 238 
			  Cotton House 351.41 367 
			  Glasgow Airport 7 7 
			  Portcullis House 449.2 461 
			  Possilpark Ind Estate 1 1 
			 Glenrothes Saltire House 128.97 139 
			 Grangemouth Custom House 35.5 36 
			 Greenock 99 Dalrymple Street 35.27 39 
			  Custom House 72.8 78 
			 Hamilton 1 Barrack Street 45.43 49 
			 Hawick Crown Buildings 10.36 11 
			 Inverness Longman House 11 11 
			  River House 93.2 105 
			 Irvine Marress House 34.9 37 
			 Kirkcaldy 26 Victoria Road 7.35 8 
			 Lerwick Charlotte House 3 3 
			 Livingston Barbara Ritchie House 38.06 39 
			  Pentland House 256.92 279 
			  Silverburn House 432.59 464 
			 Motherwell 43 Civic Square 30.27 33 
			 Oban Cameron House 2 2 
			 Paisley Falcon Osprey and Vigilant House 193 195 
			  Gilmour House 25.73 29 
			 Perth 1-3 Water Vennel 33.12 35 
			 Peterhead Keith House 20.2 23 
			 Prestwick Terminal Buildings 3.5 4 
			 Rothesay 9 King Street 11.04 12 
			 Stirling 8 Spittal Street 45.59 49 
			 Ullapool West Argyll Street 1 1 
			 Wick Government Buildings 21.7 26 
		
	
	
		
			  1 April 2007 
			  Town/city  Building  FTE  Headcount 
			 Aberdeen Custom House 94.73 100 
			  Ruby House 145.93 160 
			 Ayr Russell House 69.7 78 
			 Bathgate Pyramids Business Park 999.14 1,058 
			 Buckie Moray House 11.68 13 
			 Coatbridge 2 Muiryhall Street 23.43 24 
			 Cumbernauld St Mungos Road 1,464.18 1,721 
			 Dumbarton 15 Meadowbank Street 7.27 8 
			 Dumfries Government Buildings 40.72 44 
			 Dundee Caledonian House 194.43 204 
			  Sidlaw House 662.59 703 
			 Dunfermline Merchiston House 29.92 32 
			 Dunoon Auchencraig 13.77 16 
			 East Kilbride Plaza Tower 855.69 948 
			  Queensway House 1,514.33 1,719 
			 Edinburgh 44 York Place 227.05 235 
			  Argyle House 31.21 33 
			  Clarendon House 138.41 142 
			  Elgin House 300.14 313 
			  Grayfield House 377.97 403 
			  Haymarket House 1.65 2 
			  Meldrum House 173.9 180 
			  Saughton House 355.6 372 
			  Spitfire House 6 6 
			 Elgin Phoenix House 5 5 
			 Falkirk Grahame House 14,68 16 
			 Galashiels Government Buildings 16.55 19 
			 Glasgow 2 Corkerhill Gardens 1 1 
			  Blythswood House 171.1 186 
			  Cotton House 334.74 352 
			  Portcullis House 679.25 700 
			 Glenrothes Saltire House 128.28 139 
			 Grangemouth Custom House 29.54 30 
			 Greenock 99 Dalrymple Street 32 34 
			  Custom House 70.64 77 
			 Hamilton 1 Barrack Street 33.72 37 
			 Hawick Crown Building 10.79 12 
			 Inverness Longman House 11 11 
			  River House 91.01 104 
			 Irvine Marress House 31.19 33 
			 Kirkcaldy 26 Victoria Road 6.35 7 
			 Lerwick Charlotte House 3 3 
			 Livingston Barbara Ritchie House 480.93 512 
			  Pentland House 261.02 283 
			 Motherwell 43 Civic Square 27.32 29 
			 Oban Cameron House 2 2 
			 Paisley Falcon Osprey and Vigilant House 190.43 193 
			  Gilmour House 27.2 31 
			  Terminal Building 7 7 
			 Perth 1 to 3 Water Vennel 25.3 27 
			 Peterhead Keith House 17.59 20 
			 Prestwick Terminal Building 3.49 4 
			 Rothesay 9 King Street 6.62 7 
			 Stirling 8 Spittal Street 40.67 45 
			 Ullapool 24 West Argyll Street 1 1 
			 Wick Government Buildings and Custom House 20.08 23 
		
	
	
		
			  1 April 2008 
			  Town/city  Building  FTE  Headcount 
			 Aberdeen Custom House Aberdeen 83.54 88 
			  Ruby House 130.5 143 
			 Ayr Russell House 62.73 69 
			 Bathgate Pyramids Business Park 1,025.34 1,083 
			 Buckie Moray House 9.7 11 
			 Coatbridge 2 Muiryhall Street 21.43 22 
			 Cumbernauld St Mungos Road 1,344.25 1,550 
			 Dumbarton 15 Meadowbank Street 4.46 5 
			 Dumfries Government Buildings Dumfries 31.04 33 
			 Dundee Caledonian House Dundee 177.32 188 
			  Sidlaw House 712.88 756 
			 Dunfermline Merchiston House 29.84 31 
			 Dunoon Auchencraig 12.77 15 
			 East Kilbride Plaza Tower 839.49 919 
			  Queensway House 1,473.28 1,690 
			 Edinburgh 44 York Place 211.56 220 
			  Argyle House 25.29 27 
			  Clarendon House Edinburgh 127.18 131 
			  Elgin House 269.91 280 
			  Grayfield House 394.53 427 
			  Haymarket House Edinburgh 1.65 2 
			  Meldrum House 168.32 175 
			  Saughton House 323.86 340 
			  Spitfire House 6 6 
			 Elgin Phoenix House 5 5 
			 Falkirk Grahame House 10 11 
			 Galashiels Government Buildings 13.06 15 
			 Glasgow 2 Corkerhill Gardens 1 1 
			  Blythswood House 160.62 174 
			  Cotton House 328.02 346 
			  Portcullis House 664.83 690 
			  Princes Trust Anniesland College 1 1 
			 Glenrothes Grangemouth Saltire House 107.27 116 
			  Custom House 26.49 27 
			 Greenock 99 Dalrymple Street 20.97 22 
			  Custom House 66.54 72 
			 Hamilton Hawick 1 Barrack Street 33.32 36 
			  Crown Building 8.79 10 
			 Inverness Longman House 9.43 10 
			  River House 83.82 96 
			 Irvine Marress House 30.65 32 
			 Kirkcaldy 26 Victoria Road 5.35 6 
			 Lerwick Charlotte House 3 3 
			 Livingston Barbara Ritchie House 480.89 509 
			  Pentland House 245.25 268 
			 Motherwell 43 Civic Square 21.92 23 
			 Oban Cameron House 2 2 
			 Paisley Falcon Osprey and Vigilant House 192.14 195 
			  Gilmour House 27.91 31 
			  Terminal Building 7 7 
			 Perth 1 to 3 Water Vennel 23.3 25 
			 Peterhead Keith House 15.4 18 
			 Prestwick Liberator House 3 3 
			 Rothesay 9 King Street 6.62 7 
			 Stirling 8 Spittal Street 19.67 22 
			 Ullapool 24 West Argyll Street 1 1 
			 Wick Government Buildings and Custom House 19.51 23

Revenue and Customs: Scotland

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much in direct and indirect taxes is  (a) collected and  (b) administered by each HM Revenue and Customs office in Scotland, in each of the last 12 months.

Jane Kennedy: The information requested is not available centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Tobacco

David Crausby: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the number of cigarettes sold in the UK in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Angela Eagle: The total number of cigarettes released for consumption in the UK can be found in Table 2 of the HM Revenue and Customs 'Tobacco Bulletin', which is available from the HM Revenue and Customs website addresses at
	http://www.uktradeinfo.com/index.cfm?task=bulltobacco.
	HM Revenue and Customs does not collect sales data.

Tobacco: Leeds

John Battle: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the number of cigarettes sold in  (a) Leeds West constituency and  (b) Leeds metropolitan district in each of the last five years.

Angela Eagle: HMRC does not have geographic information on cigarette sales.

Valuation Office: Databases

Eric Pickles: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer with reference to page 19 of the 2008-11 Forward Plan of the Valuation Office Agency (VOA), what information Ordnance Survey provided to the Valuation Office Agency to improve and align the VOA's database.

Jane Kennedy: The work between VOA and Ordnance Survey (OS) to improve and align respective databases is ongoing. The VOA will receive data from OS under this project later this year.

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Antisocial Behaviour

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the planned timetable is for the implementation of the community call to action procedures in the  (a) Police and Justice Act 2006 and  (b) Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007.

Parmjit Dhanda: 'Strong and prosperous communitiesthe Local Government White Paper Implementation Plan: One Year On', published in November 2007, states that Councillor Call for Action for local government matters will be implemented during 2008.
	The Home Office's Policing Green Paper will consult on a number of proposals for improving local accountability and decisions about how to implement the Police and Justice Act 2006 will need to be taken in light of the results of that consultation.

Community Relations

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer of 6 March 2008,  Official Report, column 2773W, on community relations, what progress has been made on determining the process by which recommendation 25 of the report, 'Our Shared Future', on guidelines for local authorities on awarding public sector contracts to faith-based bodies, can be implemented.

Parmjit Dhanda: Officials have begun discussion with other Government Departments and stakeholders to discuss the most appropriate way to take this forward. No decisions have yet been made.

Councillors: Equal Opportunities

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when she plans to publish a response to the recommendations contained in the Councillors' Commission report, Representing the Future, published on 10 December 2007.

Parmjit Dhanda: The Secretary of State announced on 15 May that the Government response to the Councillors Commission report would be published alongside the Community Empowerment White Paper, which will be published before the summer recess.

Departmental Buildings

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what offices her core Department has outside central London.

Parmjit Dhanda: Communities and Local Government occupies leased offices at Hempstead House, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, and 2 Victoria Street, Glossop, Derbyshire. A third office at Garston, Hertfordshire is due to be vacated very shortly.
	In offices managed by other Government Departments or agencies, CLG occupy space at Temple Quay House Bristol, Ashdown House Hastings, Office for National Statistics Titchfield Hampshire, and Fire Service College Moreton in Marsh Gloucestershire.

Departmental Funiture

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many  (a) chairs,  (b) desks and  (c) other office furnishings have been purchased by her Department and its agencies in each of the last five years; and at what cost in each case.

Parmjit Dhanda: Communities and Local Government (CLG) does not collect data on expenditure on its office furniture.
	All expenditure incurred by CLG in the purchase and procurement of services and items is made in accordance with the departmental guidance on financial procedures and propriety, based on principles set out in Government Accounting. Where possible CLG purchase furniture through centrally negotiated contracts, always ensuring that the material used accord with the sustainable development in Government initiative.

Departmental Marketing

Philip Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much her Department and its agencies spent on branding and marketing activity in 2007-08.

Parmjit Dhanda: I refer the hon. Member to chapter 10 in the Communities and Local Government annual report 2008 which contains expenditure for the Department's public information campaigns in 2007-08. The report can be found in the Library of the House.
	Information on marketing activities by our agencies can be supplied only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Property

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the value of the property held by  (a) her Department and  (b) associated public bodies was at the most recent date for which figures are available.

Parmjit Dhanda: The value of the property held at 31 March 2007, the most recent date for which audited figures are available, was:
	33.3 millions in the Department; and
	1,061.4 million in associated public bodies. Within the total held by associated public bodies 978.9 millions is property held short-term to enable sustainable economic regeneration and development in the English regions.

Departmental Publications

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will place in the Library copies of her Department's in-house staff magazine for the last 12 months.

Parmjit Dhanda: Copies of the Department's staff magazine are placed in the Library on a regular basis. I can confirm that the most recent edition is now available.

Greenbelt: East of England

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the right hon. Member for Bromley and Chislehurst of 2 June 2008,  Official Report, column 544W, on the green belt: East of England, how many hectares of green belt land, in gross terms, will be developed as a consequence of the East of England Regional Spatial Strategy.

Parmjit Dhanda: The East of England Plan requires the review of green belt boundaries at Stevenage, Hemel Hempstead, Harlow and Welwyn/Hatfield to help accommodate the housing requirements identified for this part of the region. The actual amount of green belt involved will depends on the outcome of these strategic reviews and the new boundaries will be established through the joint or co-ordinated local development frameworks developed by the local authorities involved.

Home Information Packs

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 8 May 2008,  Official Report, columns 37-9WS, on home information packs, if she will place in the Library a copy of the initial assessment produced by the Deputy Chief Executive of the Land Registry.

Caroline Flint: A copy of the 'Local Property Searches and Leasehold Information' report by Ted Beardsall, the deputy chief executive of the Land Registry has been deposited in the House Library and is also available on the CLG website at:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/housing/propertysearchesleasehold.
	The working group on leasehold Information in HIPs has been established and is due to report in the autumn. Membership and terms of reference of the working group are available on the CLG website at:
	www.communities.gov.uk/housing/buyingselling/homeinformation/whatis/workinggroup/.

Housing: Carbon Emissions

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  what estimate her Department has made of the annual carbon dioxide emissions from a typical three bedroomed dwelling that is  (a) electrically and  (b) gas heated under level three standard of the Code for Sustainable Homes;
	(2)  what estimate her Department has made of average annual carbon dioxide emissions from a typical three bedroomed dwelling  (a) built to current Part L building regulations and gas heated and  (b) electrically heated to level three standard under the Code for Sustainable Homes.

Iain Wright: Energy performance standards within Code level 3 incorporate a 25 per cent. improvement in carbon dioxide emissions compared to a similarly heated home built to 2006 Part L building regulations.
	An indicative average sized house used in the Department's modelling is a 100 m(2)( )semi-detached house and the results below are for standard occupancy and patterns of heating and hot water usage for average UK weather conditions. The model does not take into account the use of appliances such as brown and white goods.
	
		
			   Kg/year 
			  Heating type and standard achieved  Average carbon dioxide emissions 
			 Gas boiler, compliant with Part L 2006 building regulations 2,203 
			 Gas boiler, achieving Code Level 3 1,640 
			 Electrically heated home, compliant with Part L 2006 building regulations 3,118 
			 Electrically heated home, achieving Code level 3 2,324 
		
	
	These figures are target emission rates. Developers will use a variety of different solutions to achieve compliance with them and occupiers will consume more or less than this dependent on their real life behaviour. The target emission rates in Part L of the building regulations are different for gas heated and electrically heated homes due to the use of a 'fuel factor'.
	This factor recognises the higher carbon burden of grid electricity in comparison with gas and therefore the compliance difficulties which would be faced by homes which could not be built to use gas heating, for example homes that are not on the gas grid.

Housing: Construction

David Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps her Department is taking to increase house-building activity within the construction sector.

Caroline Flint: In order to encourage home building within the construction sector, Communities and Local Government is continuing to engage with the construction industry and mortgage lenders seeking to stimulate building of the good quality and affordable homes that people need. This is supported by other actions being taken through our delivery bodies.
	As we announced on the 14 May, we will be helping developers at a challenging time in the new build market by giving the Housing Corporation flexibility to fund its investment partners to buy unsold stock from developers at competitive rates with a view to provision of either social rent or low cost home ownership. We expect the Housing Corporation to spend 200 million in 2008-09.
	Through an expansion of the Government's HomeBuy programme, all first time buyers with a household income of 60,000 a year or less will have the option to apply to buy a share, from 25 per cent. of a home or to boost their purchasing power by up to 50 per cent. with a shared equity mortgage.
	English Partnerships are seeking to help developers to acquire land needed to maintain supply of housing through improvements to their processes for selling sites.

Housing: Low Incomes

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much affordable housing was built in England in each quarter since 2006; and what her projections are for the amount to be built in the remainder of 2008.

Caroline Flint: The following table shows the number of new affordable homes built in England in 2005-06 and 2006-07these figures are not available quarterly. The figures include new build Social rent and intermediate affordable housing; they exclude affordable housing acquisitions.
	
		
			  New build affordable homes in England 
			   Number 
			 2005-06 33,010 
			 2006-07 35,950 
			  Source: Registered social landlord new build figures from the Housing Corporation, local authority new build completions from P2 returns, Section 106 new build figures from HSSA returns. 
		
	
	The Department does not produce forecasts of new build affordable housing delivery.
	The total new build plus acquisitions figures for England are shown in the affordable housing live tables and statistics release, which were released on the Department's website on 12 June 2008the links are as follows:
	 Link to Affordable Housing Live Tables:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/housing/housingresearch/housingstatistics/housingstatisticsby/affordablehousingsupply/livetables/
	 Link to Affordable Housing Statistics Release:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/corporate/838468.

Housing: Low Incomes

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many units of social housing are available to residents in Chorley for  (a) rental,  (b) shared ownership and  (c) purchase.

Iain Wright: The following table summarises the breakdown of social housing within Chorley, according to the most recent Regulatory and Statistical Return (RSR) dated 31 March 2007. The 2008 RSR is currently being collated.
	
		
			  Description  Number of units 
			  Social rented  
			 General needs 4,833 
			 Supported housing 170 
			 Housing for older people 793 
			 Total 5,796 
			  Shared ownership  
			 Total 228 
			   
			  Purchase  
			 Low cost home ownership sales 16 
			 RTB/RTA/PRTB 2 
			 Total 18 
			  Notes: RTARight to acquire RTBRight to buy PRTBPreserved right to buy

Housing: Repossession Orders

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what steps her Department is taking with financial institutions and the Local Government Association to reduce the number of housing repossessions; and if she will make a statement.

Iain Wright: The Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Chief Secretary to the Treasury and the Minister for Housing and Planning hosted meetings with the mortgage and lending industry on 22 April and 10 June to discuss what the industry can do to support borrowers in difficulty during the current period of turbulence in global financial markets.
	Further meetings are planned to continue the exchange of information and agree actions.
	In monitoring implementation of homelessness prevention strategies, Communities and Local Government has regular contact with all English local authorities including assessment of the effectiveness of measures to minimise homelessness.
	Although we appreciate that repossessions have risen slightly in recent months, the rate is around a third of that in 1991, when they reached 75,500even with two million more homeowners today.

Housing: Sustainable Development

Lembit �pik: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many homes have been assessed against the Code for Sustainable Homes since 1 May 2008; and how many of these homes meet Level  (a) 3,  (b) 4 and  (c) 6 of the code, broken down by type of landlord.

Iain Wright: Since the code was launched in April 2007, 25 homes in four developments have reached code level 3 at design stage, with three dwellings in two developments reaching code level 4. Of these assessments, one design stage certificate for a code level 3 home has been issued and two post-construction certificates for homes which reached code level 4 have been issued since 1 May 2008.
	It was always anticipated that there would be a time lag from the code's inception to the completion of substantial numbers of new code homes. This is because of the time it takes to incorporate the code standards within the land acquisition and design process. Larger developments will inevitably take longer to reach a construction stage due to the statutory consultation process and negotiations involved.
	Overall since 1 May 2008, 188 developments incorporating approximately 1,050 homes have been registered against the code. Since the code was launched 1,269 developments representing over 45,000 homes have been registered.
	The register of code certificates and the data underpinning it is administered by the BRE on behalf of the Government. Reports on the number of assessments and the code level achieved are provided on a monthly basis. Reports on breaking these figures down by local authority area, Government Office region and landlord type is provided on a quarterly basis. We are due to receive the first quarterly report in July 2008.

Leisure: Private Sector

Adam Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment her Department has made of the role played by commercial leisure groups towards enhancing facilities available to local communities; and how her Department liaises with  (a) commercial leisure organisations,  (b) licensed bingo clubs and  (c) dance schools on such matters.

Parmjit Dhanda: The Department has made no such assessment. Policy responsibility for enhancing the local leisure facilities lies with DCMS.

Licensing Laws

Bob Neill: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many planning appeals the Planning Inspectorate has considered in relation to premises selling alcohol in the last 12 months.

Iain Wright: The Planning Inspectorate are able to identify appeals that relate to public houses and wine bars, but this may not identify all appeals relating to premises selling alcohol. During the 12 month period 1 June 2007 to 31 May 2008, the Inspectorate considered 182 planning appeals in respect of public houses and wine bars.

Local Government: Standards

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which local authorities have received Reward Grant funding from her Department for meeting targets in their  (a) local public service agreement and  (b) local area agreement to date; what the value was of each payment; and on what date each payment was made.

John Healey: The following tables set out payments of Performance Reward Grant (PRG) made to local authorities in respect of performance on targets in local public service agreements. PRG is claimed by local authorities and payable in two instalments; the first in the financial year after the end of the three year agreement, the second in the following year. For the vast majority of authorities payments are made between January and March of the relevant year. The agreements themselves are in the public domain and these explain the amount of reward payable and the basis upon which the reward grant is to be paid.
	The first local area agreements incorporating a 'reward element' started in April 2005 and will run for three years. The first instalment of PRG in relation to these agreements will not therefore be payable until later in the current financial year.
	
		
			  Local government public service agreementsstarting 2001, 2002 and 2003 
			   
			  Local authority   
			  Pilot  1st Instalment  2nd Instalment 
			 Birmingham 7,749,255.00 7,749,255.50 
			 Blackburn with Darwen 1,371,623.00 1,371,623.00 
			 Cambridgeshire 1,570,940.00 1,570,940.00 
			 Camden 1,488,487.00 1,488,487.00 
			 Coventry 2,837,123.00  
			 Derbyshire 3,860,446.00 3,860,446.50 
			 Kent 9,704,622.50 9,704,622.00 
			 Lewisham 2,675,090.50 2,675,090.00 
			 Middlesbrough 964,800.00 964,800.00 
			 Milton Keynes 624,552.50 624,552.50 
			 Newcastle-upon-Tyne 2,104,138.00 2,104,138.00 
			 Newham 3,142,745.62 3,142,745.62 
			 Norfolk 2,570,642.50 2,570,642.50 
			 Richmond-upon-Thames 864,241.50 864,241.50 
			 Sheffield 4,271,858.00 4,271,858.00 
			 Stockton-on-Tees 1,347,106.00 1,347,106.50 
			 Sunderland 2,118,253.00 2,001,970.00 
			 Surrey 3,174,233.00 3,174,233.00 
			 Tameside 1,889,347.50 1,889,347.00 
			 Warwickshire 2,689,631.50 2,689,631.00 
			 Total 57,019,137.62 54,065,728.12 
			
			  Batch 1   
			 Buckinghamshire 2,795,316.50 2,795,316.50 
			 East Riding of Yorkshire 2,313,259.50 2,752,209.50 
			 Leeds 2,201,139.00 (1) 
			 Peterborough 939,356.00 939,356.00 
			 Total 8,249,071.00 6,486,882.00 
			
			  Batch 2   
			 Bromley 2,711,210.00 3,019,365.00 
			 Durham 4,765,154.00 4,765,154.00 
			 Essex 8,727,211.00 8,727,211.00 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 942,905.50 942,905.50 
			 Hampshire 4,991,949.00 4,991,949.00 
			 Herefordshire 860,086.00 (1) 
			 Liverpool 1,762,015.00 3,251,038.00 
			 Manchester 3,289,489.00 4,274,367.00 
			 Southwark 2,792,583.75 2,895,170.75 
			 Wigan 2,026,043.00 2,026,043.00 
			 Wiltshire 2,283,635.50 2,283,635.50 
			 Worcestershire 4,186,145.00 4,186,145.00 
			 Total  41,362,983.75 
			
			  Batch 3   
			 Barnsley 1,022,844.00 (1) 
			 Cheshire 4,357,053.00 4,927,998.00 
			 Derby City 2,042,136.50 2,042,136.50 
			 Devon 4,085,549.50 4,085,549.50 
			 Doncaster 2,175,257.00 2,175,257.00 
			 Halton 910,520.00 1,038,520.00 
			 Kirklees 3,239,567.00 3,239,567.00 
			 Medway 2,380,561.50 2,380,561.50 
			 Stoke 1,267,039.50 1,267,039.50 
			 Suffolk 3,015,811.50 1,507,905.75 
			 Sutton 915,746.50 915,746.50 
			 Tower Hamlets 3,499,138.50 3,499,138.50 
			 Warrington 1,725,296.00 1,725,296.00 
			 Total  28,804,715.75 
			
			  Batch 4   
			 Bolton 1,864,337.00 1,864,337.00 
			 Croydon 1,726,081.00 1,726,081.00 
			 Greenwich 1,949,880.50 1,949,880.50 
			 Leicester City 2,315,053.50 2,391,910.50 
			 Portsmouth 868,900.00 868,900.00 
			 Rochdale 1,701,335.00 3,402,729.00 
			 Salford 1,692,322.00 1,692,322.00 
			 Slough 603,899.00 (1) 
			 Staffordshire 2,818,101.50 5,276,710.50 
			 Swindon 618,546.50 618,546.50 
			 Telford and Wrekin 1,232,599.00 1,365,137.00 
			 York 755,092.00 1,122,740.00 
			 Total 18,146,147.00 22,279,294.00 
			
			  Batch 5   
			 Bracknell Forest 357,318.00 357,318.00 
			 Brighton and Hove 728,354.50 728,354.50 
			 Baling 1,687,540.50 1,687,540.50 
			 Hartlepool 916,923.50 916,923.50 
			 Knowsley 1,123,834.50  
			 Lincolnshire 1,947,371.75 3,019,754.00 
			 North Lincolnshire 895,930.50 895,930.50 
			 Redbridge 1,461,674.50 (1) 
			 St. Helens 1,045,434.50 1,425,839.50 
			 Waltham Forest 1,492,593.00 1,492,593.00 
			 Total 11,656,975.25 10,524,253.50 
			
			  Batch 6   
			 Blackpool 1,542,190.50 1,542,190.50 
			 Bristol city council 1,067,946.50 1,067,946.50 
			 Gloucestershire 3,555,572.50 4,575,920.50 
			 Harrow 1,391,231.50 1,518,210.50 
			 Hertfordshire 4,839,475.50 4,839,475.00 
			 Isle of Wight 886,620.50 886,620.50 
			 Islington 2,483,647.00 (1) 
			 Luton 1,410,195.50 1,410,195.50 
			 Oxfordshire 3,622,886.00 3,622,886.00 
			 Total 20,799,765.50 19,463,445.00 
			
			  Batch 7   
			 Bedfordshire 1,231,384.50 1,892,666.50 
			 Bury 1,322,139.00 1,322,139.00 
			 Havering 1,590,024.50 1,590,024.50 
			 Hounslow 2,413,407.50 2,413,407.50 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 1,600,632.00 1,600,632.00 
			 Nottinghamshire 6,019,297.00 6,019,297.00 
			 Rotherham 1,870,199.50 1,870,199.50 
			 Shropshire 2,085,738.00 2,540,605.00 
			 Somerset 1,126,639.50 1,126,639.50 
			 Stockport 1,679,413.50 1,679,413.50 
			 West Sussex 4,182,082.50 7,366,071.50 
			 Wokingham 752,858.00 752,858.00 
			 Wolverhampton 2,511,671.50 2,511,671.50 
			 Total 28,385,487.00 32,685,625.00 
			
			  Batch 8   
			 Barking and Dagenham 1,671,215.50 1,671,215.50 
			 Barnet 1,538,463.00 1,538,463.00 
			 Bath and NE Somerset 964,110.50 964,110.50 
			 Dorset 1,950,304.50 1,950,304.50 
			 East Sussex 3,527,268.50 3,527,268.50 
			 Lancashire 6,048,044.00 6,818,988.00 
			 Leicestershire 4,500,960.50 4,500,960.50 
			 Northamptonshire 2,814,136.50 4,583,893.50 
			 NE Lincolnshire 1,257,275.00 1,257,275.00 
			 Northumberland 2,782,102.50 2,782,102.50 
			 Total 27,053,880.50 29,594,581.50 
			
			  Batch 9   
			 Bexley 1,874,037.00 (1) 
			 Bradford 2,512,549.50 2,512,549.50 
			 Cornwall 4,265,936.00 4,265,936.00 
			 Cumbria 2,845,478.00 2,845,478.00 
			 Kingston Upon Thames 744,893.50 1,101,211.50 
			 Merton 1,811,475.00 1,811,475.00 
			 North Yorkshire 3,724,168.50 3,724,168.50 
			 Reading 760,475.50 760,475.50 
			 Sandwell 2,630,700.00 2,630,700.00 
			 Southampton 890,080.50 890,080.50 
			 Thurrock 1,038,354.00 (2) 
			 West Berkshire 1,070,612.00 1,070,612.00 
			 Westminster 1,635,083.50 2,126,617.50 
			 Total 25,803,843.00 23,739,304.00 
			
			  Batch 10   
			 Brent 2,567,234.00 2,567,234.00 
			 Calderdale 1,329,359.00 1,329,359.00 
			 Dudley 2,560,372.00 2,560,372.00 
			 Enfield 2,306,926.50 2,558,168.50 
			 Hillingdon 2,144,889.50 2,144,889.50 
			 Lambeth 2,291,972.50 3,084,190.50 
			 North Somerset 1,225,702.50 1,279,930.50 
			 Nottingham 1,505,156.50 1,547,150.50 
			 Oldham 1,615,762.00 2,114,762.00 
			 Redcar and Cleveland 1,183,093.00 1,563,968.00 
			 Sefton 1,943,432.00 1,943,432.00 
			 South Tyneside 1,531,267.00 1,531,267.00 
			 Southend-on-Sea 899,881.00 1,070,766.00 
			 RB Windsor and Maidenhead 528,663.00 528,663.00 
			 Total 23,633,710.50 25,824,152.50 
			
			  Batch 11   
			 Bournemouth 1,252,663.50  
			 Darlington 776,629.50 776,629.50 
			 Gateshead 2,477,958.50 2,477,958.50 
			 Haringey 2,238,634.00  
			 North Tyneside 1,628,087.50  
			 Poole 1,087,783.00  
			 Rutland 136,200.50  
			 Solihull 2,003,388.00 2,003,388.00 
			 South Gloucestershire 2,146,323.50  
			 Trafford 1,119,273.00 1,119,273.00 
			 Wandsworth 1,819,421.50 1,819,421.50 
			 Wirral 1,716,417.00 3,192,467.00 
			 Total 18,402,779.50 11,389,137.50 
			
			  Batch 12   
			 Kingston Upon Hull   
			 Plymouth 2,489,343.00  
			 Torbay 1,006,312.50  
			 Wakefield   
			 Walsall   
			 Total 3,495,655.50  
			 (1) One instalment (2) One target still to claim 
		
	
	
		
			  Local government public service agreements2nd Generation starting in 2004 
			  Local authority  
			  Pilot 1  1st Instalment 
			 Blackburn with Darwen 1,263,391.00 
			 Newham 942,173.00 
			 Norfolk 5,467,369.50 
			 Sheffield 2,523,575.00 
			 Stockton 1,885,551.50 
			 Tameside 2,285,483.50 
			 Total 14,367,543.50 
			 Derbyshire 310,125.00 
			 Wigan 1,204,432.00 
			 Luton 2,533,490.00

Planning

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what changes have been made to the 18/84 planning procedure since 1997.

Iain Wright: Since 1997 the procedures for development by the Crown set out in Part IV of DOE Circular 18/84 have been revoked, following the implementation of part 7 of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 in June 2006, which ended the Crown's immunity from the planning system. Crown bodies now have to apply for planning permission like any other developer subject to special arrangements for urgent development. Guidance on development by Crown bodies is given in DCLG Circular 02/2006 'Crown Application of the Planning Acts'.

Public Participation

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if she will place in the Library a copy of the report produced by GfK NOP Ltd. for her Department on the feasibility of undertaking a national survey of attitudes.

Parmjit Dhanda: The feasibility study carried out by GfK Nop Ltd., on undertaking a national survey of attitudes, produced a technical report to inform methodological development. As such, it was not designed to collect responses for data analysis. A summary of the feasibility study report findings is shown as follows. I will not be placing a copy of the full report in the Library at present, as this could jeopardise ongoing policy development, but I will review this position in due course once current policy formulation in this area has reached a conclusion.
	 Summary of the feasibility study report for a communities attitudes survey
	This paper summarises the key points from the Feasibility Study and its recommendations.
	 Key findings
	There was a good response from respondents. Once eligibility was established, respondents were keen to take part and the number of refusals to participate was generally very low.
	Male face-to-face interviewers reported difficulties obtaining interviews with some female respondents; they were not unwilling to participate but sought the consent and/or presence of male relatives.
	Interviewers felt that respondents were concerned about confidentiality and anonymity, despite the reassurances given throughout the interview. This was felt by interviewers to affect the truthfulness of answers to some questions.
	The presence of other people during the interview, which was common in face-to-face interviews, was also felt to present risks to validity.
	It appeared to be harder for telephone interviewers to authenticate the legitimacy of the research and gain respondents' trust.
	Respondents expressed concern about the questions which asked for demographic information about other members in the household.
	The average interview lengths of the face-to-face and telephone interviews were 43 minutes and 35 minutes respectively.
	There was a relatively high number of incompleted telephone interviews; questionnaire length was one factor thought to contribute to this. This was not a problem with face-to-face interviews.
	There were problems with some questions on sensitive issues, including a relatively high number of 'don't knows' to some.
	In the face-to-face interviews, audio-CASI (audio-recorded questions which the respondent completes themselves and nobody else hears the responses) was used for some questions. This method, which is used in surveys to ask about sensitive topics, was generally successful although there were some issues with the foreign language versions of the questions.
	The language and concepts in the questionnaire more generally was thought to be over-complex in places.
	 Key recommendations
	The study demonstrated that a large-scale nationally representative survey of community attitudes is feasible, provided that certain measures are taken into consideration.
	A face-to-face methodology is recommended because of:
	Length of interview;
	Greater ability to reassure respondents about confidentiality;
	Lower incidences of terminated interviews; and
	Ability to use Audio-CASI for sensitive questions.
	The length of the interview (for face-to-face) should be no longer than 35 minutes.
	Extensive development is required on questions on sensitive issues.

Regional Planning and Development: East of England

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what consultation process was used by the Government Office for the East of England to consult residents of  (a) Castle Point and  (b) Essex on the Revision to the Regional Spatial Strategy for the East of England.

Parmjit Dhanda: There were three stages of public consultation leading to the development of the East of England Plan, the Revision to the Regional Spatial Strategy for the East of England. A 14-week consultation on the Draft Plan was held from 8 December 2004 until 16 March 2005. A 12-week consultation on the Secretary of State's Proposed Changes to the Draft Plan took place from 19 December 2006 until 9 March 2007. Finally, there was an eight-week consultation on the Secretary of State's Further Proposed Changes to the Draft Plan that took place from 23 October 2007 until 18 December 2007. All of these consultations were open to all members of the public, including residents of Castle Point and Essex.

Television

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how much her Department spent on  (a) commissioning and  (b) funding the production of television programmes (i) in each of the last three years and (ii) in 2008-09 to date; what programmes these were; and which companies made them.

Parmjit Dhanda: The Department has not commissioned or funded television programmes in the period specified.

CHILDREN, SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES

After School Clubs: Chorley

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much his Department has spent on after-school clubs in Chorley constituency in each year since 1997.

Beverley Hughes: Information of this kind is not collected centrally, It is for local authorities, working with schools and children service partners, to develop strategies for how funding for extended activities In schools is allocated, depending on local need, The Department made a total of 840 million available to local authorities and schools between 2003 and 2008 to support start-up of extended services in schools. A further 1.3 billion will be made available over the next three years to support start-up and sustainability of services. Individual local authority allocations are available online at:
	www.teachernet.gov.uk.
	Other funding is also available to support extended schools, including money available to support personalised learning during and beyond the school day, and money available to support neighbourhood renewal.

Children in Care: Missing Persons

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families pursuant to the answer of 22 April 2008,  Official Report, columns 2027-8W, on children in care: missing persons, how many of the 3,520 children who went missing from local authority care in the last five years have never been traced.

Kevin Brennan: My answer of 22 April 2008 provided figures on the number of children who went missing from their agreed placement for 24 hours or more during each of the years ending 31 March 2003 to 2007. Those are reproduced in table 1. These figures cannot be aggregated to give the number of children who had gone missing at least once over the five year period. This is because the same child may have gone missing from their agreed placement in more than one year and will be counted in each of those years. Aggregating the data would therefore lead to double counting.
	
		
			  Table 1 
			   Number 
			 2003 990 
			 2004 730 
			 2005 860 
			 2006 890 
			 2007 950 
			  Source: SSDA 903 return on children looked after. 
		
	
	Although it is not possible to derive from this data the number of children who have never been traced, we do collect information on the number of children who were still missing from their agreed placement at the 31 March each year. These are shown in table 2. The figures for a particular year will, however, include children who went missing in that year and a number of children who first went missing in a previous year. So, again it is not possible to aggregate these figures over any particular time period without double counting.
	
		
			  Table 2 
			   Number 
			 2003 120 
			 2004 120 
			 2005 140 
			 2006 140 
			 2007 160 
			  Source: SSDA 903 return on children looked after. 
		
	
	When a child is reported as missing from care; it is essential that the authority works with the police and provides all necessary information so that the child can be located. One of the requirements set out in statutory guidance 'Children Missing from Home and Carea Guide to Good Practise', issued in 2002, is that each local authority must designate a senior manager to be responsible for monitoring incidents of children missing from care to identify any trends and to investigate any further action necessary to respond to children's needs ensuring that they are properly safeguarded.
	On 26 March we published 'Care Matters: Time to Deliver for Children in Care' which sets out our intention to update and reissue guidance to the Children Act 1989 and subsequent legislation. As part of this we shall be emphasising the responsibilities of local authorities to respond consistently and effectively whenever a child is missing from care.

Children: Day Care

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many registered child care places there were in  (a) Leeds West constituency and  (b) Leeds metropolitan district in each year since 1997.

Beverley Hughes: Information is not available in the form requested.
	The information available relates to the number of registered childcare places in Leeds local authority area and is given in the following tables.
	
		
			  Table 1 :  Number( 1)  of registered child care places for children under eight years of age by type of care, Leeds local authority areaposition at 31 March each year 2003-08 
			  Type of care  2003  2004  2005  2006  2007  2008 
			 Full day care 5,700 6,600 7,200 8,300 8,600 8,500 
			 Sessional day care 2,500 2,300 2,000 2,000 1,900 1,800 
			 Childminders 5,000 5,100 5,100 5,300 5,100 4,900 
			 Out of school day care 5,000 4,500 4,700 5,300 5,900 5,300 
			 Crche day care 700 700 600 600 600 600 
			 (1) Figures ham been rounded to the nearest 10 if under 100, and to the nearest 100 if over 100.  Source: Ofsted 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2 :  Number( 1)  of day care places for children under eight years of age by Leeds local authority areaPosition at 31 March each year 1997 to 2002 
			  Type of provider  1997  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002 
			 Day nurseries 3,400 3,500 3,900 5,100 4,400 n/a 
			 Playgroups and pre-schools 5,000 4,900 4,200 3,200 3,000 n/a 
			 Childminders 5,500 5,400 4,700 5,300 4,700 n/a 
			 Out of school clubs 1,700 2,800 2,300 2,700 2,600 n/a 
			 Holiday schemes(2) 7,900 3,800 12,400 5,500 8,400 n/a 
			 n/a = not available. (1) Figures have been rounded to the nearest 10 if under 100, and to the nearest 100 if over 100. (2) From 1999, places were counted once for each school holiday. Before 1999, places were counted once each year.  Source: Children's Day Care Facilities Survey. 
		
	
	Since 2003 Ofsted has been responsible for the registration and inspection of child care providers, Ofsted have produced figures on the numbers of registered child care providers and places on a quarterly basis from March 2003, Their latest figures were published in their report 'Registered Childcare Providers and Places, March 2008', which is available on their website
	www.Ofsted.gov.uk/.

Children: Day Care

Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many and what proportion of those who have received money from the  (a) Transformation Fund, (b) Graduate Leader Fund and  (c) Outcomes, Quality and Inclusion strand of the (i) Sure Start, (ii) early years and (iii) Childcare grants in each of the last three years are registered childminders.

Beverley Hughes: The Department does not collect the data requested. Funding for childminders is allocated to local authorities through the Sure Start Early Years and Childcare Grant. Local authorities determine how these resources are used at local level.

Children: Day Care

Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many and what proportion of local authorities provide funding for childminding networks.

Beverley Hughes: The information requested is not held centrally.
	We encourage the establishment of childminding networks but it is for local authorities to decide whether or not to fund them, according to their priorities for securing sufficient child care based on their child care sufficiency assessments. In addition, Sure Start Children's Centres in every local authority are encouraged to support childminders, including through childminding networks.

Children: Day Care

Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many and what proportion of local authorities have undertaken full sufficiency assessments of local child care provision under the Childcare Act 2006.

Beverley Hughes: All local authorities have completed and published child care sufficiency assessments, as required by section 11 of the Childcare Act 2006.

Children: Day Care

Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families pursuant to the answer of 4 June 2008,  Official Report, columns 948-50W, how many and what proportion of daycare settings in the  (a) 15 per cent. most deprived and  (b) 15 per cent. least deprived local authorities are Sure Start centres; and how many and what proportion of the 8.4 per cent. of day care providers deemed inadequate in the 15 per cent. least deprived areas between 2007 and 2008 are Sure Start centres.

Beverley Hughes: The DCSF does not hold this information. The Chief Inspector, Christine Gilbert, will write to the hon. Member and a copy of her reply will be placed in the Library.
	 Letter from Christine Gilbert, dated 15 September:
	Your recent parliamentary question has been passed to me, as Her Majesty's Chief Inspector, for reply.
	The first part of your question refers to the number and proportion of day care settings in the relevant authorities that are Sure Start centres. There are 6,913 settings in the 15% least deprived authorities, of which 481 (7.0%) are Sure Start centres. There are 3,420 settings in the 15% most deprived authorities, of which 503 (14.7%) are Sure Start centres. These data are also presented in Table A below.
	These figures should be treated with care. The total figures for day care settings are from Ofsted's childcare database. However, we do not identify whether childcare providers are Sure Start centres on our database. The total numbers of Sure Start centres in each local authority are taken from the Sure Start database, which is maintained by each local authority and as such the quality of the data is variable. Therefore, inaccuracies may occur from a direct comparison between our register and the database (for instance, a provider on our register that has not yet been added to the Sure Start database by the local authority).
	The second part of your question refers to the 8.4%, or 102, of day care providers deemed inadequate in the 15% most deprived local authorities. 11 of these settings (10.8% of 102) are Sure Start centres. These data are also presented in Table A below.
	Again, I am afraid that these data come with some caveats. To produce the figures we have cross-referenced the postcodes of Sure Start centres as recorded by local matching, however, is unlikely to be fully accurate for a number of reasons:
	postcodes are not unique to a single setting but cover a small area, so a Sure Start centre may have the same post code as another childcare setting which is not a Sure Start centre;
	linked sites that do not operate in the post coded area of the children's centre have not been identified; and
	as above, the Sure Start database is maintained by each local authority and as such the quality of the data is variable.
	Please also note that, as requested, we are providing figures relating to the quality of day care providers inspected during 2007-08. These figures cannot be used to represent the total number of inadequate Sure Start centres as they do not include those inspected in previous years.
	
		
			  Table A: Sure Start centres inspected between 1 April 2007 and 31 March 2008 
			   Total Day Care Providers at 01/04/08  Sure Start Children's Centres (Designated and Meeting Full Core Offer)  Total Day Care providers Inspected 07/08  Those childcare settings inspected which are Sure Start centres*  Number of day care providers inspected and found inadequate in 07-08  Number of those inspected and judged inadequate which are possibly Sure Start centres( 1) 
			 15% least deprived local authorities 6913 481 (7% of total day care providers 2549 143 (5.6% of the total number inspected) 143 (5.6% of the total number inspected) 13 (9.1% of the providers found inadequate 
			 15% most deprived local authorities 3420 503 (14.7% of total day care providers) 1219 140 (11.5% of the total number inspected 102 (8.4% of the total number inspected) 11 (10.8% of the providers found inadequate) 
			 (1) Sure Start centres include both main sites and satellite units with a postcode within the least and most deprived areas. 
		
	
	A copy of this reply has been sent to Right Hon. Beverley Hughes MP, Minister of State for Children, Young People and Families, and will be placed in the library of both Houses.

Children's Commissioner for England: Costs

Gary Streeter: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  how much the Office of the Children's Commissioner for England cost in each year since its inception;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the performance of the Children's Commissioner for England in the last three years.

Beverley Hughes: holding answer 23 June 2008
	The Children's Commissioner for England publishes his annual report and accounts, copies of which are laid before Parliament and available in the House Library.
	The Children's Commissioner is independent of Government. The Government values the role the Commissioner plays in bringing the views and interests of children to the forefront and values his independence as this enables him to fulfil his functions appropriately. The Children's Commissioner for England regularly meets with Ministers across Whitehall to bring his work to their attention and discuss his findings. No formal assessment is made of the Commissioner's achievements by Ministers as this would be improper considering the Commissioner's independence.

Connexions Service: Finance

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much funding the Connexions service has received from  (a) his Department and  (b) other sources in each year since 2005; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: The amount of resources we are putting into Connexions and other services for children and young people is substantial The funding that the Connexions service has received from the Department in each year since 2005 is shown in the following table. Although we know that Connexions Partnerships have also received resources from other sources we do not hold information on the amounts involved.
	
		
			  Connexions Service DCSF/DFES funding 
			million 
			 2005-06 464 
			 2006-07 466 
			 2007-08 467 
			 2008-09 469

Departmental Accountancy

Oliver Letwin: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families if he will place in the Library a copy of his Department's  (a) chart of accounts and  (b) resource account codes and usage descriptions for the 2008-09 financial year.

Kevin Brennan: A copy of the DCSF chart of accounts has been placed in the Library. The chart of accounts for 2008-09 reflects the Department's structure for the year and will not necessarily reflect the 2007-08 structure, or that for future years. The Department does not use resource account codes. Each code has a brief description that describes its use.

Departmental Planning Permission

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what  (a) planning applications and  (b) licensing applications his Department has submitted in the last 24 months.

Kevin Brennan: The information requested is as follows:
	 (a) None.
	 (b) None.

Departmental Transport

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families when his Department's green transport plan was introduced; and if he will place in the Library a copy of this plan.

Kevin Brennan: The Department's sustainable development action plan, 'Brighter FuturesGreener Lives' was published on 1 May and is underpinned by delivery plans committing us to make progress on a series of sustainable development goals. We do have a commitment to encourage staff to travel to work in the most carbon efficient manner which we will develop into a green transport plan.

Education Leeds: Finance

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much funding his Department has given to Education Leeds in each year since 2001.

Jim Knight: Details of the total payments issued to Education Leeds by the Department for Children, Schools and Families and its predecessor the Department for Education and Skills in each year from 2001 to 2008 are set out as follows:
	
		
			
			 2001/02 55,728 
			 2002/03 561,706 
			 2003/04 1,557 
			 2004/05 17,927 
			 2005/06 9,158 
			 2006/07 12,897 
			 2007/08 0 
			 2008/09 (to 19 June 2008) 2,000 
		
	
	The expenditure relates to payments recorded in the Department's Integrated Financial Information System and credited against Education Leeds.
	The expenditure recorded covers the Department for Children, Schools and Families and its predecessor the Department of Education and Skills (DFES). The Department for Children, Schools and Families was established under machinery of government changes on 28 June 2007.

Education: Assessments

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  what steps are being taken to resolve systemic problems encountered by schools attempting to register Key Stage 2 SAT pupils online;
	(2)  what steps are being taken to ensure helplines are accessible to schools and teaching staff during the period of Key Stage 2 SATs;
	(3)  what steps are being taken to ensure the system for administering Key Stage 2 SATs is fit for purpose for teaching staff and pupils.

Jim Knight: The National Curriculum tests for key stage 2 took place on 12-16 May. The National Assessment Agency (NAA) administers those tests on behalf of the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority. Delivery of the national curriculum tests is always challenging in view of the scale and timing of the task and it is unfortunate that this year's exercise has encountered difficulties. As usual during the test delivery period, we are in regular contact with the NAA and I take a close interest in the progress of test delivery, I have asked David Gee, Managing Director of the NAA, to write to my hon. Friend. A copy of his letter has been placed in the Library.
	 Letter from David Gee ,  dated 20 June 2008:
	The National Assessment Agency is responsible for overseeing the safe delivery of the National Curriculum Tests. The tests at KS2 and KS3 are sat by over 1.1 million pupils.
	To remove the risk of error in the marking of pupils work it is important that an accurate record of pupil attendance for each test is recorded. For many years this has been a paper process which given the scale of the tests brings with it inevitable errors that require correcting, For the 2008 test cycle a new contractor ETS was appointed and one of the many improvements they offered was to move the recording of pupil attendance online.
	Schools were provided with a copy of the most recent pupil records as collected from school census data and were required to annotate against each pupil which tests were actually sat. Some pupils move schools during the year and so there was the additional facility to edit the records.
	A new website provided by ETS delivered this service On the first day of the KS2 test week the website unfortunately suffered technological problems for three hours. While key stage 2 schools had a period of 10 days to submit their entries an estimated 745 schools out of approximately 16,000 were impacted by the website being not available during this time.
	Help line service for schools is provided by ETS throughout the test period. During the time of system outage the ETS helpline did experience a high number of calls as schools reported this issue. The volume of calls caused callers to be held in a queue and ETS have acknowledged and apologised for this frustration. Staffing of the helpline has been increased in response to this issue to give greater capacity.
	As in previous years the NAA will be conducting a review in to the delivery performance of the tests including consulting with schools, markers and other stakeholders to ensure good practice and necessary improvements are captured and acted upon

Education: Assessments

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  what representations he has received on ETS's performance in marking SATs papers in the academic year 2007-08; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of ETS's online system for marking SATs papers and recording results.

Jim Knight: holding answer 23 June 2008
	As in previous years, the Department has received representations about aspects of the national curriculum tests, including marking. The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) is responsible for the development and administration of national curriculum tests and the National Assessment Agency (NAA) administers the tests and manages the delivery contract with ETS Europe on the QCA's behalf. This function is performed independently of the Government. On completion of the test cycle, the NAA will fully evaluate the effectiveness of the test delivery systems, taking account of feedback from stakeholders, to ensure that any necessary improvements are made.
	Responsibility for regulating the development and delivery of national curriculum tests lies with the independent interim regulator, the Office of the Qualifications and Examinations Regulator (Ofqual). In fulfilling its regulatory function, Ofqual is monitoring the delivery of the 2008 tests.

Financial Services: Education

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what guidance his Department has issued to schools on education in personal financial management; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Knight: We issued separate guidance to primary schools and secondary schools on the teaching of personal finance education in 2000. (Financial Capability through Personal Finance Education: Guidance for Schools at Key Stages 1 and 2).
	We have asked the Personal Finance Education Group to update the guidance for secondary schools in light of the introduction of a new programme of study for economic well-being and financial capability within the revised secondary curriculum. The new guidance will be available to schools this summer.
	The guidance for primary schools is expected to be updated once Sir Jim Rose has completed his review of the primary curriculum in March 2009.
	As part of the 11.5 million investment to support good financial education in schools announced in September 2007, the Department will also be producing a range of curriculum resources. These will be available from summer 2009.

General Certificate of Secondary Education: Leeds

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what percentage of pupils of  (a) state schools and  (b) private schools in (i) Leeds Metropolitan District and (ii) Leeds West constituency achieved (A) five grades A* to C at GCSE and (B) three A to C grades at A Level in each year since 1997.

Jim Knight: The information requested in (B) requires significant data development and recalculations, which can be done only at disproportionate cost. However, figures showing the percentage of 15-year-olds achieving five A* to C grades at GCSE are shown in the following table:
	
		
			  Proportion of 15-year-olds( 1)  achieving 5 or more A* to C grades at GCSE and equivalent( 2) 
			   Parliamentary Constituency of Leeds West( 3)  Leeds Metropolitan District( 4) 
			   State schools( 5)  Independent schools( 6)  State schools( 5)  Independent schools( 6) 
			 1997 24.2 n/a 37.4 88.3 
			 1998 20.3 n/a 37.9 87.1 
			 1999 22.5 n/a 39.4 89.1 
			 2000 25,2 n/a 40.4 87.1 
			 2001 20.9 n/a 39.6 84.3 
			 2002 22.7 n/a 42.4 86.4 
			 2003 25.7 n/a 44,4 82.5 
			 2004 26.1 n/a 45.3 85.6 
			 2005 32.4 n/a 49.3 84.2 
			 2006 38.2 n/a 52.0 88.8 
			 2007 40.4 n/a 55.7 93.1 
			 n/a= not applicable (1) Age at the start of the academic year (i.e. 31 August). (2) From 1997 includes GNVQ equivalences and from 2004 other equivalences approved for use pre-16. (3) Pupils attending schools located in Leeds West constituency. (4) Pupils attending schools located in Leeds Metropolitan District (5) All maintained schools including maintained special schools. (6) All independent schools and non-maintained special schools.

Infant Foods: Finance

Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many and what proportion of local authorities fund the provision of baby formula milk.

Dawn Primarolo: I have been asked to reply.
	The Department does not collect information on the extent to which local authorities fund the provision of infant formula. Through the Nursery Milk scheme, the Great Britain Health Departments reimburse providers of early years education and daycare for 1/3 pint milk given daily to children under five attending for two hours or more. This may be given as infant formula for babies under one. We do not monitor the proportion of claims relating to infant formula, but estimate that they represent a small proportion of all claims.

Languages: Curriculum

Stephen Hesford: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families which languages have been added to the national curriculum in the last 10 years; and what criteria are applied to assess the eligibility of modern foreign languages for inclusion in the syllabus.

Jim Knight: In 1998, schools were teaching the 1995 version of the national curriculum which did not specify which languages schools should teach.
	Since 2000 the requirement on schools at Key Stage 3 has been to first teach a working language of the European Union. The new Key Stage 3 curriculum, which will be taught in schools from September 2008, broadens this requirement to allow schools to teach any major European or world language they choose, which may include Arabic, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Mandarin, Russian, Spanish and Urdu. This change was made to allow schools more freedom to offer world languages, in response to the increasing global economy.
	Sir Jim Rose is conducting a review of the primary curriculum, one of the aims of which is to introduce languages as a compulsory subject at Key Stage 2. He will be considering which languages primary schools should teach as part of this review.

Nurseries

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many  (a) private and voluntary independent and  (b) maintained day nurseries there were in London in each year since 1997.

Beverley Hughes: The Childcare and Early Years Providers Survey collects information on the ownership of child care provision; the estimated number and proportion of full day care providers by type of ownership in London in 2006 is shown in table 1 as follows. Data for previous years are not available in the format requested.
	
		
			  Table 1: Ownership of full day care provision in London, 2006 
			   Number  Percentage 
			 Private 1,270 67 
			 Voluntary sector 360 19 
			 Local Authority 130 7 
			 School/college 100 5 
			 Other 60 3 
			  Note: Percentages may not sum to 100 per cent. due to rounding.

Pre-School Education

Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families 
	(1)  what estimate he has made of the  (a) number and  (b) proportion of parents taking up the free early years entitlement who are using part or all of the entitlement on childminders;
	(2)  how many and what proportion of the settings delivering the free early years entitlement are childminders;
	(3)  how many and what proportion of childminders are delivering the free early years entitlement.

Beverley Hughes: Childminders delivering free early learning places for three and four-year-olds must be registered with Ofsted and be accredited as part of a childminder network that meets the requirements of a suitably rigorous quality assurance scheme. The Early Years census, therefore, collects information for childminding networks rather than individual childminders. 126 childminding networks have members delivering the free entitlement.

Pre-school Education: Finance

Susan Kramer: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what estimate he has made of his Department's expenditure on the early years entitlement in each of the next five years; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: holding answer 16 June 2008
	Payment for the free early education entitlement is made as part of the Dedicated Schools Grant which provides funding for pupils between the ages of three to 16. We do not separately identify the amount of funding made available for early years. Local authorities are best placed to determine the most effective use of resources at local level and have discretion over the rate at which they fund settings for delivery of early years provision.
	From September 2010 the free entitlement for three and four year olds will be extended from 12 to 15 hours per week for 38 weeks per year, and access will be more flexible. A longer and more flexible offer will give parents greater choice in balancing work and family life. This large injection of additional funding emphasises the Government's commitment to ensure that every child gets the best possible start in life. We will invest 80 million in this year, 170 million in 2009-10 and 340 million in 2010-11 to extend the entitlement. Funding levels for the next CSR period (2011-14) are yet to be decided.

Television

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much his Department spent on  (a) commissioning and  (b) funding the production of television programmes (i) in each of the last three years and (ii) in 2008-09 to date; what programmes these were; and which companies made them.

Jim Knight: Teachers' TV was launched in February 2005 and aims to help raise standards in classrooms by sharing good practice, supporting continuing professional development, offering classroom resources, and providing education news and information. Teachers TV commission all programmes directly with third party suppliers.
	In the channel's first operating year the Department provided funding of 19.9 million, in the second 16 million and 16.7 million in its third year. 731,936 has been funded during 2008-09 to date.

Young Offender Institutions

Neil Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many children under the age of 18 years were in custody in  (a) local authority secure units,  (b) young offender institutions and  (c) secure training centres at the latest date for which figures are available.

Beverley Hughes: The following table, which contains information provided by the Youth Justice Board, shows the number of children and young people held in young offender institutions, secure training centres and secure children's homes on 30 April 2008.
	
		
			   Number 
			 Young Offender Institutions 2,549 
			 Secure Training Centres 235 
			 Secure Children's Homes 228 
			 Total 3,012

Young Offenders

Neil Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what account he takes of the requirements of  (a) justice and  (b) welfare in determining his policy on children (i) convicted of criminal offences and (ii) involved in anti-social behaviour.

Beverley Hughes: All justice and antisocial behaviour interventions for young people consider the need to protect victims, witnesses and the community while enabling the young person to recognise the consequences of their behaviour and support them to change, The Youth Taskforce Action Plan, published on 18 March 2008, sets out the Government's approach to antisocial behaviour by young people and provides a clear focus on prevention, early intervention and enforcement. The focus on prevention and early invention ensures that the welfare of the young person is a central feature of our triple-pronged approach.
	We have also clarified the purpose of sentencing for young people which places a duty on the court to have equal regard to:
	(a) the principal aim of the youth justice system (which is the prevention of offending or re-offending by young people)
	(b) the welfare of the young person in accordance with section 44 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933, and
	(c) the purposes of sentencing. Which are:
	the punishment of offenders
	the reform and rehabilitation of offenders
	the protection of the public, and
	the-making of reparation by offenders affected by their offences.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Human Rights: Iran

Sandra Osborne: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations he has made to the Government of Iran on human rights.

Kim Howells: The human rights situation in Iran is a major concern, and we remain committed to speaking out about this. Together with the EU, we have raised human rights concerns and specific cases with the Iranian authorities on at least 17 occasions this year. With strong UK support, the EU presidency has issued three public declarations in the past two weeks about the execution of juvenile offenders in Iran.

Responsibility to Protect

Stephen Crabb: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs under what circumstances the UK would seek to invoke the principle of Responsibility to Protect through the UN Security Council.

Kim Howells: The Responsibility to Protect, as agreed in the context of the UN, applies to cases of genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity and ethnic cleansing. We would therefore want to see Security Council action/discussion where such national authorities are not protecting their own population in such cases.

Republic of Somaliland

Alun Michael: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of democratic developments in the Republic of Somaliland.

Kim Howells: I visited Somaliland last week and was impressed with the work proceeding to ensure free and fair elections are held in early 2009.
	The postponement of Somaliland elections for a second time in April this year led to international donors suspending their funding of 75 per cent. of voter registration costs. But I am glad to say that a solution was agreed with the National Electoral Commission enabling funding to be reinstated once election preparations had been made. The authorities are making progress on this.

Burma

Sharon Hodgson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the political situation in Burma.

Meg Munn: The recent referendum lacks any credibility and the new constitution cannot provide a sound basis for Burma's future. The renewal of Aung San Suu Kyi's house arrest on 27 May demonstrates the regime's determination to exclude legitimate political actors from the political process.
	Only a process that includes all ethnic groups and political parties can lead to genuine national reconciliation. We will continue to work with regional and other international partners, including at the EU and UN, to encourage genuine democratic change.

Colombia

Tony Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information his Department collects on trends in the numbers of politically-inspired deaths and disappearances in Colombia.

Kim Howells: We collect information on murders and other abuses in Colombia from the United Nations, International Red Cross and a range of governmental and civil society organisations.
	We are encouraged that homicides have fallen substantially over the past six years. However, too many people are killed or are victims of abuse, including trade unionists and human rights defenders. The Colombian Government are in no doubt of our concerns on these issues.
	We are fighting to eradicate the impunity enjoyed by powerful individuals in Colombia who organise this murder, kidnapping and brutality.

Afghanistan

Julian Brazier: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the political situation in Afghanistan.

Kim Howells: Since 2001 progress towards political stability in Afghanistan has been remarkable. There is now an elected government and parliament; local governance structures are in place; there will be a second round of elections in 2009. This offers the Afghan people a stable and democratic future. But it remains under threat from the Taliban. The UK will continue to support the Afghan government in delivering a better future for its people.

European Union

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on recent developments in the European Union.

Jim Murphy: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary set out the Government's position following the Irish referendum on the Lisbon treaty in a statement to the House on 16 June. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister made a further statement to the House on 23 June on the outcome of discussions on the situation at the European Council.

Democratic Development

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he has taken to promote and encourage further democratic development in countries where the majority of the population is Muslim.

Meg Munn: Muslim-majority countries, like others, are at different stages of development. Turkey and Indonesia are developing democracies where universal values apply in diverse cultural and social contexts. Other countries, such as Afghanistan, Iraq and Pakistan, face challenges that require them to combine political reconciliation with military action, develop a strong and accountable state and practise effective government in all parts of the country. We support voices for positive and progressive democratic change.

Zimbabwe

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the prospects for free and fair elections for the presidency of Zimbabwe; and if he will make a statement.

Meg Munn: As my right hon. Friends the Foreign Secretary and the Prime Minister have said, the violence, suspension of aid and the ongoing murder and intimidation of ordinary Zimbabweans are unacceptable. The regime lost all vestiges of legitimacy long ago. We continue to work through the EU, UN and African Union to press for solutions to the current electoral crisis that reflect the will of the people as they voted on 29 March.

Simon Mann

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the fairness of the conditions for the trial of Simon Mann in Equatorial Guinea.

Meg Munn: We are following Mr. Mann's trial closely.
	We would take seriously concerns raised by Mr. Mann and would consider pursuing them with the Equatorial Guinea authorities.
	Following repeated requests by Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials, our consul in Lagos met Mr. Mann on 20 June.

Gaza-Israel Border Crossings

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of the security situation at Gaza-Israel border crossings; and if he will make a statement.

Kim Howells: The re-opening of the Israeli-Gaza crossings is essential to delivering an improved humanitarian situation in Gaza. We have condemned attacks on the crossings, which only serve to increase the suffering of Gazans and endanger the lives of Israelis.
	The recent announcement of a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel opens the prospect of an easing of both the security situation and human suffering. We urge all concerned to take this opportunity.

Sexual Exploitation: United Nations

David Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent steps the Government have taken to prevent sexual exploitation of people by forces representing the United Nations.

Kim Howells: The Government take any cases of sexual abuse by UN forces extremely seriously. Peacekeepers play a brave and vital role in tackling conflict; we expect the highest standards of conduct. We support the UN's 'zero tolerance' approach to sexual exploitation, and are working with them to combat the problem. We fund the UN team that tackles misconduct by troops; conduct and discipline are integral to UK-sponsored peacekeeping training.

Lisbon Treaty

David Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with European counterparts on the future of the Lisbon Treaty; and if he will make a statement.

Jim Murphy: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary set out the Government's position following the Irish referendum on the Lisbon Treaty in a statement to the House on Monday 16 June. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister made a further statement to the House on Monday 23 June on the outcome of discussions on the situation at the European Council.

Sudan

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the effect of the recent conflict in Abyei on the Comprehensive Peace Agreement in Sudan.

Meg Munn: The fighting in Abyei could have posed a serious threat to the Comprehensive Peace Agreement. The National Congress Party and Sudan People's Liberation Movement have shown their commitment to the CPA by agreeing a Roadmap on 8 June to resolve the Abyei dispute, which has been an obstacle to CPA implementation. We are working with both parties and international partners to implement fully the Abyei Roadmap and the CPA.

Departmental Trade Unions

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which trades unions represent members of staff in  (a) his Department and  (b) its agencies.

Meg Munn: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office and its agencies recognise three trade unions as having the right to represent staff. These are: the Public and Commercial Services Union; the Diplomatic Services Association, which is a branch of the First Division Association; and Prospect.

Ethiopia: Armed Conflict

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on the conflict in eastern Ethiopia's Somali Regional State; what assessment he has made of the effect of this conflict on the security situation in Somalia; and if he will make a statement.

Meg Munn: Since April 2007 the Ethiopian Government have been conducting counter-insurgency operations against the Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) in Ethiopia's Somali Regional State. We continue to receive reports, from Ethiopia's Somali Region, of fighting between Ethiopian Government forces and the ONLF which has made it more difficult to respond to humanitarian problems in the area.
	The conflict in Ethiopia's Somali Region contributes to instability in the Horn of Africa sub-region, although we are unaware of any direct effects this conflict has on the security situation in Somalia.

France: State Visits

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 15 May 2008,  Official Report, column 1775W, on France: state visits, what the additional costs associated with the hosting the UK-France summit were.

Jim Murphy: The total cost of hosting the UK-France summit was just under 80,000, including costs relating to venue hire, transport, catering, interpretation, media and various miscellaneous costs.

Government Communication Headquarters: Photography

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 16 June 2008,  Official Report, column 667W, on Government Communication Headquarters: photography, how many prosecutions under the Official Secrets Act 1911 have been brought against those taking photographs of Government Communications Headquarters, Cheltenham; and if he will request the Crown Prosecution Service to investigate whether to prosecute the BBC for displaying such photographs online.

David Miliband: I am not aware of any prosecutions under the Official Secrets Act 1911 in relation to photography at the Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ). The photos used by the BBC online are with GCHQ's permission and there is therefore no necessity for me to consult the Crown Prosecution Service.

Papua: Politics and Government

John MacDougall: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the political situation in West Papua.

Meg Munn: We believe that the complex issues in Papua can best be resolved through peaceful dialogue between the people of Papua, their elected representatives and the central government of Indonesia. Indonesian President Yudhoyono has committed his government to improving the situation in Papua, which we welcome. Vice President Kalla, along with a team of ministers, visited Papua most recently in February to discuss economic and social development with representatives of the Papuan people. Governor Suebu, of Papua province, is pressing ahead with his social and economic development programmes, underpinned by the significant financial resources now being directed to Papua as a result of its special autonomy status.
	Our embassy in Jakarta follows the situation in Papua closely. They are in regular contact with human rights organisations, non-governmental organisations and academics working in the region. Embassy staff visit Papua regularly.
	We continue to encourage all sides to maintain a meaningful dialogue that focuses on implementing fully the existing Special Autonomy legislation. We judge that this is the best way to ensure the long-term stability and development of Papua and its people.

Papua: Politics and Government

John MacDougall: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps the Government are taking through the EU to encourage the Indonesian government to enter into internationally-mediated dialogue with representatives of the West Papuan people.

Meg Munn: We believe that the complex issues in Papua can best be resolved through peaceful dialogue between the people of Papua and their central government. Indonesian President Yudhoyono has committed his government to improving the situation in Papua, which we welcome.
	We continue to encourage all sides to support meaningful dialogue and to focus on implementing fully the existing Special Autonomy legislation. We judge that this is the best way to ensure the long-term stability and development of Papua and its people. We do not have any plans with our EU partners to pursue an internationally mediated dialogue on Papua. We support the territorial integrity of Indonesia and do not support calls for independence for Papua.

Somalia: Human Rights

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the Government supports the proposal to widen the mandate of the UN Panel of Experts for Somalia to include an Independent Commission of Inquiry into human rights abuses; and if he will make a statement.

Meg Munn: The UK continually insists that human rights are fully respected by all parties in Somalia and has joined its international partners in clearly saying so in UN Security Council Resolutions, Communiques of the Somalia International Contact Group and Resolutions of the UN Human Rights Council.
	The UK fully supports both the UN Security Council Resolution 1814, unanimously adopted on 15 May 2008, and the EU General Affairs and External Relations Council Conclusions, adopted on 26 May, in support of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, including the Independent Expert for Somalia, and encourage them to undertake a fact-finding and assessment mission to Somalia to address the human rights situation.

Somalia: Peacekeeping Operations

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to the answer of 11 March 2008,  Official Report, column 333W, on Somalia: peacekeeping operations, what steps the Government are taking with its international partners to ensure the full deployment of the African Union Mission in Somalia.

Meg Munn: My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has discussed ongoing Ugandan troop deployment to the African Union mission to Somalia with President Museveni. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary and my noble Friend the Minister for Africa, Lord Malloch-Brown, have also raised deployment to the mission with Ghana and Nigeria.

Somalia: Piracy

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what  (a) financial and  (b) logistical support the Government is giving to enforce UN Security Council Resolution 1816 (2008) on piracy in the waters of the Somalian coast.

Jim Murphy: The UK is not currently providing financial or logistical support to enforce UN Security Council Resolution 1816 (2008), although we provide financial assistance in support of the African Union mission in Somalia (about 8 million in the last financial year). The EU General Affairs and External Relations Council of 16 June welcomed the unanimous adoption of the resolution and asked that all possible options are considered on how best to contribute to the implementation of the resolution. We will continue to work with our international partners to tackle the issue of piracy. The prevention of global conflict, which includes piracy, is a key foreign policy objective for the Government.

Sri Lanka: Press Freedom

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received on freedom of the press in Sri Lanka.

Kim Howells: Sri Lanka is ranked at 156 out of 169 entries in the Reporters Sans Frontires Worldwide Press Freedom Index. We are concerned about a growing number of attacks and about incidents of intimidation against journalists. Our high commissioner in Colombo raised a number of these cases and the wider issue of media freedom with the Sri Lankan government earlier this month.

Sudan: Peace Negotiations

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of progress towards the implementation of plans under the Comprehensive Peace Agreement for disarmament, demobilisation and reintegration in Sudan under UN Security Council Resolution 1784 (2007); and if he will make a statement.

Meg Munn: The North and South Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration (DDR) Commissions lead on DDR in Sudan with international support from the UN Integrated DDR Unit (UNIDDRU). The UK works closely with the Governments in the North and South, and the UN on DDR, and provides support for capacity building and reintegration expertise in the North and South DDR Commissions and in the UNIDDRU. The parties have agreed a national DDR plan and reintegration policy which provides DDR support for 182,900 ex-combatants, equally split between north and south, over four years. This will be a complex and expensive process requiring commitment from both the Government of National Unity and the international community.

Sudan: Peace Negotiations

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the effect of the movement of the Lord's Resistance Army from Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo on  (a) the security situation in southern Sudan and  (b) the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement.

Meg Munn: We are aware of reports of Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) attacks in southern Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Central African Republic which have had a detrimental effect on security in those countries.
	The Juba peace process has, over the past two years, increased peace and security in northern Uganda and the surrounding region. The draft Final Peace Agreement between the Ugandan Government and the LRA represents a considerable achievement. The Government have called for it to be signed as soon as possible while recognising that full implementation will depend on the agreement of all parties.

UN World Conference against Racism

Louise Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received on the arrangements for the Durban review conference on racism to be held in Geneva; and if he will make a statement.

Meg Munn: holding answer 19 June 2008
	Government officials continue to attend all meetings that deal with the preparations for the Durban Review Conference. The most recent discussions have focused on practical arrangements and procedures for the Review Conference, rather than on substance.

Zimbabwe: Overseas Investment

Hugo Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will take steps to identify those companies which are  (a) trading with Zimbabwe and  (b) providing services to Zanu-PF in connection with the re-run of the presidential elections which are (i) UK based, (ii) UK owned and (iii) have UK holding companies.

Meg Munn: holding answer 20 June 2008
	The EU Common Position consists of a travel ban and asset freeze on Robert Mugabe and 130 people associated with his regime, most of whom are members of ZANU-PF. Targeted measures are designed to impact on the regime, not on the general population of Zimbabwe. Consistent with this, there are no EU or UK specific economic sanctions that prevent British companies from trading in Zimbabwe.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Afghanistan: Schools

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what information his Department holds on the number of  (a) primary and  (b) secondary schools in each district of Helmand province, Afghanistan which were open and operating in each of the last eight years.

Douglas Alexander: The Department for Education (DoE) in Helmand collects information on education in Helmand. While data collection has improved recently, historical data are incomplete.
	According to the DoE, there are currently 224 registered schools in Helmand, 29 of them secondary schools. There is one teacher-training college, one agricultural college and one technical college. However, only around 50 of these schools are open and active, three of them secondary schools.
	The breakdown by district is as follows:
	Baghran: six schools open out of 19
	Gereshk: seven schools open out of 23
	Musa Qaleh: one school open out of 19 plus one madrassa
	Nad Ali: five schools open out of 19
	Nawa: three schools open out of 20
	Naw Zad: six schools open out of 20
	Lashkar Gah: 20 schools open out of 27
	Sangin: one school open out of 11
	There are no figures for Garmsir, Dishu, Kaneshin, Kajaki or Washir districts.
	Where schools have closed due to the security situation in Helmand, it is common for informal education to run out of houses or in mosques. Some communities have been seeking to formalise such arrangements as outreach classes connected to hub schools in accordance with the National Strategy for Education, allowing the use of the formal curriculum and textbooks.

Asia: Economic Growth

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what research his Department has commissioned on the consequences of rapid economic growth in Asia, with particular reference to the consumption of environmental resources in the last three years.

Douglas Alexander: There has been no general research commissioned on this subject. However, a study has been carried out on ecosystems and poverty alleviation in South Asia. This was completed in April 2008. Under the Sustainable Development Dialogue with China, we will be carrying out a joint research project with the Chinese on how to achieve sustainable long-distance fisheries.

Asia: HIV Infection

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department is taking to tackle the spread of HIV and AIDS infection in East and South-East Asia.

Douglas Alexander: DFID is supporting action on HIV and AIDS through its country programmes in Burma, Cambodia, China, Indonesia and Vietnam. In Burma, DFID is contributing funds through a 20 million contribution to a $100 million joint donor health fund, which includes support to activities in line with the national strategic plan for HIV prevention, treatment and care. In Cambodia, DFID has provided 15.6 million over five years to support the Government of Cambodia's response to HIV and AIDS, and 7.1 million for support to condom social marketing, which is aimed at improving condom use among high risk groups. In China, DFID is providing 30 million over four and a half years to help the Government of China's national HIV and AIDS programme. This is part of a 92 million programme that is also supported by the Global Fund to fight AIDS, TB and Malaria. In Indonesia, DFID has contributed 25 million over three years through the Indonesia Partnership Fund, which supports a National Action Framework on HIV and AIDS. In Vietnam, DFID is contributing 17 million over five years in a joint HIV prevention programme with Norway.
	In the period 2004-05 to 2006-07 total bilateral expenditure on HIV and AIDS in East and South East Asia was 83 million. DFID also provides multilateral assistance to a range of organisations, some of which is used to tackle HIV and AIDS in South East Asia. For example, DFID has provided over 180 million in core support to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria over the period 2004-05 to 2006-07. A summary of DFID expenditure in the region is shown in the following table:
	
		
			  DFID bilateral expenditure on HIV and AIDS, 2004-05 to 2006-07 
			  000 
			   2004-05  2005-06  2006-07 
			 Vietnam 3,062 3,095 3,023 
			 China 5,306 5,862 5,221 
			 Cambodia 5,775 6,541 5,807 
			 Burma 3,617 3,965 3,860 
			 Indonesia 76 12,024 12,128 
			 East Timor  1,000 1,399 
			 Philippines 82 128 84 
			 South East Asia  245 495

Burma: Human Trafficking

Mohammad Sarwar: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assistance has been given to  (a) aid agencies and  (b) the government of Thailand to retrieve children trafficked out of Myanmar.

Douglas Alexander: The Department for International Development (DFID) is supporting a 2.5 million regional Save the Children programme to work against the trafficking and exploitation of migrant and vulnerable children. The programme operates in six countries in south-east Asia: Thailand, China, Laos, Cambodia, Burma and Vietnam. The goal of the programme is to ensure that effective mechanisms are established to protect vulnerable in-country and cross-border migrant children from harm, abuse, and exploitation, particularly trafficking. Models of child protection systems are being developed and promoted for the children most at risk as a result of in-country and cross-border migration.

Burma: Storms

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment has been made of reconstruction needs in Burma following Cyclone Nargis; and if he will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: A 250-strong Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-United Nations (UN) assessment team is currently in country working alongside the UN, INGOs and government to carry out needs assessments in cyclone-affected areas. Their first report is expected on 24 June, and this will provide us with information about reconstruction requirements. We are aware that there are likely to be significant longer-term reconstruction needs and will consider options for assisting with reconstruction. But our current focus is on responding to the immediate humanitarian effects and needs for relief and early recovery.

Cambodia: Overseas Aid

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what funding allocations his Department has made to Cambodia under the auspices of the International Health Partnership in the last three financial years.

Douglas Alexander: Cambodia signed the International Health Partnership (IHP) in September 2007. We are currently designing a 30 million contribution to a new multi-donor five-year programme of support to the health sector under IHP. The new programme will start in January 2009 and will pool donor funds in support of service delivery and improved resource allocation. In addition to this, over the last three financial years through the Health Sector Support Project we have provided the following core support to the health sector:
	2,053,624 in 2006-07;
	2,099,211 in 2007-08; and
	2,550,000 is planned for 2008-09.
	This does not include wider dedicated support for HIV, reproductive health and maternal mortality reduction.

Central Asia: Economic Growth

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent reports his Department has received on the economic growth rates of Central Asian countries; and what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of his Department's contribution to economic development in such countries.

Douglas Alexander: Growth rates in Central Asian countries are as follows: the Kyrgyz Republic (4.5 per cent.); Uzbekistan (5.7 per cent.); Tajikistan (8.7 per cent.); Kazakhstan (10.1 per cent.) and Turkmenistan (14.6 per cent.). Figures use the average annual real gross domestic product (GDP) between 2000 and 2007.
	DFID's work in Central Asia to date has focused on the two poorest and most fragile countriesTajikistan and the Kyrgyz Republic. In both countries, DFID supports the Government's economic growth plans, focusing on the need to ensure that they bring benefits to the poor and vulnerable, particularly in rural areas. For example, in Tajikistan, our work with rural communities in the remote Zarafshan Valley has provided access to microfinance for its 270,000 population. This is already leading to the development of successful small businesses. We actively support the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development's work in the region through their Early Transition Countries Initiative (ETCI). A recent independent evaluation of the ETC Multi Donor Fund (we have contributed 7.5 million over four years so far) confirmed that this was leading to a substantial increase in EBRD operations in most of the region.
	DFID is currently preparing a new business plan for the Central Asia region which will be centred on promoting sustained and inclusive economic growth. Over the next three years our bilateral programme is set to increase from 10 million to 14 million per year.

China: EU

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what progress has been made in the China-EU dialogue on Africa; and what decisions have been made.

Douglas Alexander: The UK supports increased contacts between the EU and China on Africa. The visit by Development Commissioner Louis Michel to Beijing in April 2008 has provided a solid basis for further co-operation. The UK has contributed to the Commission Communication on 'The EU, Africa and China: Towards trilateral dialogue and cooperation on Africa's peace, stability and sustainable development'. There is scope for China and the EU to engage more closely on both development and conflict resolution issues, in partnership with African countries.

Developing Countries: HIV Infection

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what steps his Department is taking to reduce HIV/AIDS in middle income countries.

Gillian Merron: The UK Government's updated AIDS strategy Achieving Universal Accessthe UK's strategy for halting and reversing the spread of HIV in the developing world sets out our approach for tackling HIV and AIDS in Middle-Income Countries (MICs). A copy of the updated strategy and supporting evidence paper have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses. These are also available on the Department for International Development (DFID) website:
	www.dfid.gov.uk
	As the strategy notes, MICs have substantial national resources to support HIV/AIDS responses. Therefore, international support needs to focus on transferring knowledge and expertise, helping ensure policies address inequality which have a pro-poor focus, and providing technical assistance and human resources.
	The Department for International Development (DFID) is working with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, bilateral and multilateral partners, and civil society and private sector organisations to deliver an effective HIV/AIDS response in MICs.

East Asia: Poverty

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what estimate his Department has made of the number of people living on less than $1 a day in East Asia.

Douglas Alexander: The Department for International Development (DFID) uses estimates produced by the World Bank. The latest data are from 2004. It shows that 9.9 per cent. of people were living on less than $1 a day in East Asia. More recent data are currently being finalised by the World Bank using new measures of purchasing power generated from the International Comparison Programme.

Indian Ocean Tsunami

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of his Department's contribution to the multi-donor fund for the tsunami-affected areas of Indonesia on the re-building of social and economic infrastructure in the region.

Douglas Alexander: The Department for International Development (DFID) has committed 38.5 million to the Multi Donor Fund for Aceh and Nias (MDF), representing 11 per cent. of total funds. The UK is the third largest contributor. The effectiveness of DFID's contribution has been reviewed annually. The last review concluded that UK support is meeting the objectives of responding efficiently and effectively to the needs of the affected population. Although the challenge of post tsunami reconstruction is large and complex, the MDF has made a significant impact. The MDF is managed by a Secretariat based in the World Bank, and applies high standards of financial management and sound anti-corruption measures. This has enabled the rebuilding of vital social and economic infrastructure. Results so far include the building or repair of over 3,000 houses, with a further 8,000 under construction or repair; 2,200 km of roads; 1,100 bridges; and transportation of 98,000 metric tonnes of reconstruction materials.

Iraq

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the level of risk experienced by  (a) his Department's staff and  (b) the staff of agencies engaged to implement his policies while working in Iraq in the last two years; and what the primary sources of such risks are.

Douglas Alexander: Department for International Development (DFID) staff and technical advisers working on DFID's behalf in Iraq are covered by Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) risk assessment and security management procedures. The level of risk and its sources changes frequently, and security provisions are reviewed accordingly, to ensure maximum safety of DFID staff and technical advisers.

Tajikistan: Overseas Aid

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of its humanitarian assistance to Tajikistan following severe winter weather in 2007.

Douglas Alexander: Over the last few months, staff visited all DFID-funded emergency activities in Tajikistan. This included meetings with beneficiaries who had received and used items from our air-lifts, as well as items distributed through funding to NGOs. Over 300,000 of the most vulnerable people were targeted specifically by NGO distributions. As a result, they were able to buy staple food and cooking oil, as well as use fuel and blankets to stay warm. Other benefits, particularly in more urban areas, included reopening hospitals which had been empty without electricity and drugs, and providing safe drinking water to those who had been without for several weeks.
	Some emergency activities are still ongoing. Once they are complete, we will undertake a full impact assessment of our support. We have also urged the United Nations to undertake an evaluation of the impact of its International Appeal. Both assessments will help the international community and the Government of Tajikistan improve their planning and response in the event of a similar situation this winter.

Three Faces of India: Finance

John Battle: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much funding his Department plans to allocate to the Three Faces of India plan in the next seven years; and if he will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: To implement the Three Faces of India plan, the Department for International Development (DFID) will spend 825 million during the period 2008-09 to 2010-11. A budget has not been set beyond this period, but, depending on developments, the overall aid allocation is likely to decline as India becomes a Middle Income Country.
	The Three Faces of India plan can be accessed at:
	www.dfid.gov.uk/pubs/files/india-cap.asp

Vietnam: Health Services

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what support his Department has provided for clean needle exchange programmes in Vietnam since 2006.

Douglas Alexander: DFID funds a 14.6 million project on HIV prevention and harm reduction in Vietnam. The budget allocated to the programme in 2006, 2007 and 2008 was 2.3, 4.8 and 3.7 million respectively. A needle exchange programme is a key component of the assistance and has received a rising share of the budget each year since 2006. The figures for clean needle distribution by the project are as follows:
	
		
			   Million 
			 2006 1.5 
			 2007 6.8 
			 2008 (1)10 
			 (1) Expected. 2.3 million were distributed in the first quarter.

Yemen: Primary Education

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent reports his Department has received on gender equality in primary school enrolment in Yemen.

Douglas Alexander: In May 2008, the Yemen Ministry of Education reported to the Joint Annual Review of the Government's Basic Education Development Strategy. This is the most recent report the Department for International Development (DFID) has received, and includes data on gender equality in enrolment for the first nine years of education (basic education). According to the report, total girls' enrolment in basic education was 1.8 million in 2006-07, compared to 2.5 million for boys. This represents a gender gap in enrolment of 29 per cent. However, many girls drop out of school early, with only 18 per cent. remaining until the last year of basic education.
	DFID is contributing 15 million over six years (2004-09) to a multi-donor basic education programme. This programme aims to increase enrolments for both boys and girls, and to improve the quality of basic education. It also includes targeted measures to improve girls' admission and retention.